Table of Contents
Can influenza be transmitted through contact?
This droplet transmission of the flu is known as contact transmission. The influenza viruses can also be transmitted by indirect contact by touching a contaminated object or surface and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose before washing your hands.
What happens when a person catches bird flu?
The reported signs and symptoms of avian influenza A virus infections in humans have ranged from mild to severe and included conjunctivitis, influenza-like illness (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) sometimes accompanied by nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, severe respiratory illness (e.g..
Can you be exposed to flu and not get it?
Although you were exposed to flu, you do not have any symptoms. Symptoms usually start within 1 to 4 days of close contact with another person with flu. Seven days is an outer limit. Since 7 days have passed, you should be safe and not get the flu from this exposure.
How do you catch a virus from another person?
How do viruses spread? Once a person is infected with a virus, their body becomes a reservoir of virus particles which can be released in bodily fluids – such as by coughing and sneezing – or by shedding skin or in some cases even touching surfaces.
Is flu contact or droplet?
Traditionally, influenza viruses have been thought to spread from person to person primarily through large-particle respiratory droplet transmission (e.g., when an infected person coughs or sneezes near a susceptible person).
Is bird flu contagious to humans?
There is no evidence to suggest that the A(H5), A(H7N9) or other avian influenza viruses can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared poultry or eggs. A few influenza A(H5N1) human cases have been linked to consumption of dishes made with raw, contaminated poultry blood.
What to do if you get swine flu?
The majority of people who get swine flu (H1N1) spontaneously “cure” themselves with their effective immune response. Others may benefit from the use of antiviral medications and/or supportive therapy, which can include hospitalization for those patients who have severe infections.
Is the swine flu virus contagious to humans?
Additionally, another type of swine flu virus, H3N2v, has been discovered. It is not as contagious as H1N1, but there are reports of this virus spreading from pigs to humans. In general, this swine flu is similar in most aspects to the disease caused by H1N1, but it is apparently less severe and is not easily spread from person to person.
How did the swine flu get its name?
The term swine flu came about because the type of influenza virus responsible for the 2009 pandemic, H1N1, contained genetic elements of influenza virus that were mainly thought to be characteristic for influenza strains that caused flu-like symptoms in pigs but had genetically changed to be able to cause flu in humans.
What are the symptoms of the swine flu?
Symptoms of swine flu (H1N1) begin like regular flu symptoms and include fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue. Some individuals may also have diarrhea and vomiting. The majority of people with swine flu are not diagnosed definitively with tests.