INTRODUCTION
Every year in the winter, seasonal flu outbreaks occur around the world. Seasonal flu causes a variety of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and headache. According to the CDC, 15-20% of people in the United States get the flu each year. While most people get better within days, an average of 200,000 people are hospitalized each year from flu complications such as bacterial pneumonia and dehydration. Approximately 36,000 people die of the flu each year.
However, the flu going around Asia and parts of Europe is anything but ordinary. Known to scientists as H5N1, it is responsible for the deaths of at least 80 people and millions of domestic birds in Asia and Europe. In recent years, public health experts have warned that H5N1 could start the next global pandemic, and governments have been scrambling to prepare, hoping to prevent a major disaster from occurring.
On this webpage, we will examine various aspects of avian influenza, such as the virus's molecular details, historical pandemics, its origin, what can treat it, and what the future may bring. A Q & A section and Flu Links (a list of useful bird flu resources) are also provided to nurture further understanding of the topics covered. Click one of the links on the navigation bar to begin your journey.