Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms of the condition in birds depend on the form of the virus that infects a bird. The virus that is not highly pathogenic causes mild illness. This form of the condition produces ruffled feathers or a decrease in egg production in infected birds. The highly pathogenic form of the virus can kill so quickly that once the virus enters the bird, the bird may die the same day.
In humans, bird flu causes symptoms similar to the typical flu. People may complain of any of the following:
- aching muscles
- cough
- fever
- sore throat
The symptoms usually appear within one to five days after contact with the virus. The condition is life threatening because of the complications that can occur. These include viral pneumonia and respiratory distress. A mild eye infection may also be a symptom of the condition.