Ah-Choo! Avian Flu

Avian flu is a term that is commonly misused that can mean many different things. For the most part, avian flu is something that is referred to as such because it is a disease that affects birds, like dog flu affects dogs, and human flu will affect humans. However, there has been a great deal of panic about bird flu, or avian flu, in recent times, because of the possibility that it might morph into something more serious. As it stands now, avian flu, which is a sickness that is attributed mostly to turkeys, ducks, geese and other fowl of this nature, is not something that is a serious threat. The only problem for humans arises when they come into contact with a sick bird, and for this reason if an outbreak of avian flu is found, disease controllers will work their hardest to make sure that the infected birds are found and taken care of.

Depending on what type of pet bird you have, you probably don’t have to worry much about Avian Flu. When it comes to the general population of birds, the most common avian flu strains that they are going to get are not even going to show symptoms in the bird itself. You will find that you may never know if your bird has an avian flu, because they won’t appear sick or act sick at all. Also, it might be very hard for the bird to pass it to other birds, especially if your bird is confined in a cage in your home. However, if your bird is sick looking or doesn’t act like he normally acts, you should take it to the vet to be sure that you are doing everything possible for your pet.

There have been isolated cases of humans catching a flu from birds, and this can be very serious. However, this is found in cases where a human comes into contact with birds that are not meant to be pets, such as turkeys or geese, that are infected. With a pet bird, your chances of being infected are very small.

It is always a good idea to make sure that you have washed your hands completely after you have handled your pet bird or done anything with his cage or the cleaning of his area. This is simply good common sense when you handle any animal, no matter what they are. If you suspect your bird is sick, call a vet right away.

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