Thursday, November 03, 2005

Experts dismiss scare over bird flu.

Facts about bird flu:

  • Flu viruses occur naturally among birds.
  • It was first described as "fowl plague" in Italy in 1878.
  • Wild birds carry the viruses in their intestines but seldom become ill.
  • Domesticated birds like chickens, ducks and turkeys can become sick or die.
  • True bird-to-human transmission was not recognized before 1997.
  • At least 120 people have fallen ill from avian flu; at least 60 have died.
  • Human-to-human transmission has not yet been proven.



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