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Health News
ARE THERE TREATMENTS FOR BIRD FLU IN HUMANS?
Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst
Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst
File photo of Tamiflu, which is used to treat symptoms caused by the seasonal
flu and can also be used for bird flu.
By Helena Oliviero
May 16, 2024
Bird flu infections in humans are extremely rare. There have been fewer than
1,000 known cases around the globe since it was first identified in humans in
1997.
There have been only two confirmed human cases in the U.S., according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the first in 2022 in Colorado in a
poultry worker, and the second reported on April 1 connected with the most
recent outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows.
But scientists are on alert for changes in the virus that may give it the
ability to spread easily between people.
Here’s a look at medical treatment for bird flu in humans.
Q: How is bird flu treated in humans?
Available data and limited studies suggest several antiviral medications used to
treat seasonal flu in people are also effective against bird flu, according to
the CDC. These antivirals include oseltamivir, sold under the brand name
Tamiflu.
Antiviral medicines can help reduce the severity of the illness, prevent
complications and improve the chances of survival.
The key is for people with suspected or confirmed infections to take the
antivirals as soon as possible. Antiviral treatment works best when started
within 48 hours of the first flu symptoms.
ExploreGrowing bird flu outbreak: CDC, FDA, USDA answer big questions for
people, food supply
For more serious infections, supportive care such as oxygen therapy and IV
fluids may also be needed. A severe case could require a patient be placed on a
breathing machine.
Historically, bird flu carries a high mortality rate in humans and complications
of bird flu can include pneumonia and sepsis.
ExploreConsumers warned against drinking raw milk as FDA studies bird flu
Q: Can antivirals be used to prevent an infection?
Maybe. Antivirals are sometimes given to a person soon after an exposure to a
sick or dead animal in order to prevent an infection.
Q: Are Tamiflu and other flu antivirals available over the counter?
A: No. They are only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Q: How do the antivirals work?
Antivirals such as Tamiflu work by attacking the flu virus to keep it from
multiplying in your body. This helps reduce the severity and duration of flu
symptoms.
About the Author
Helena Oliviero
joined the AJC in 2002 as a features writer.
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