Most cases avian flu transmission and bird flu infection in humans have resulted from direct, or close contact with infected poultry. For example - domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys, or surfaces contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds. Exposure is considered most likely during slaughter, de-feathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking. Is it safe to eat poultry and poultry products? Because of concerns about how bird flu is spread and the potential for more widespread infection in the human population, public health authorities closely monitor outbreaks of human illness associated with avian influenza H5N1 and how avian influenza is spread. Since influenza A viruses (the type to which Bird flu and avian flu belong), have the potential to change and gain the ability to spread easily between people, monitoring for human infection and person-to-person transmission is important. Of the 15 avian influenza virus subtypes, H5N1 is of particular concern for several reasons. H5N1 mutates rapidly and has a documented propensity to acquire genes from viruses infecting other animal species. The bird flu's ability to cause severe disease in humans has now been documented. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that this virus has high pathogenicity and can cause severe disease in humans. Birds that survive infection excrete virus for at least 10 days, orally and in feces, thus facilitating further spread at live poultry markets and by migratory birds.
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