Bird Flu

Avian Influenza is commonly known as Bird flu and is a viral illness or an infection that is transmitted through birds. It is also common in humans and other animals. H5N1 is the most common form of bird flu and is deadly among birds. It can easily affect humans and other animals. According to the World Health Organization, H5N1 was first discovered among humans in 1997 and has killed almost 60 per cent of the infected population. Though the virus does not spread via human-to-human contact, still some experts consider it a threat to the human population.

There are several types of bird flu but the first one to infect the human population was Avian Influenza in Hongkong, 1997. The outbreak happened because of handling infected poultry.

Wild waterfowls naturally suffer from this disease but it doesn’t take long for domestic poultries to get infected by the same. It quickly spreads to human beings through the faeces of infected birds, any nasal, mouth or eye secretions. If you consume properly cooked eggs and chicken, there stays no risk of infection, however, you cannot leave your eggs runny or cook meat at a lower temperature.

If you are infected by the H5N1 bird flu, you will experience the following bird flu symptoms-

• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Malaise
• Muscle aches

If you suspect that you are suffering from bird flu, make sure to inform the hospital authorities prior to visiting so that they can take proper precautions before treating you.

The H5N1 virus can survive for the long term and therefore birds infected with it can spread the virus for as long as 10 days through faeces and saliva. If you come in contact with those, you will run the risk of getting infected. People who are most prone to the H5N1 virus are generally -

• Poultry farmers
• Travellers visiting affected areas
• Exposed to infected birds
• Those who eat undercooked poultry or eggs
• Healthcare workers caring for infected patients
• Household members of an infected person

The outcome of any bird flu depends on the severity of the infection and the type of virus which is causing it. While H5N1 has a high death rate, others are exempted from it. A few potential symptoms of bird flu are-

• Sepsis
• Pneumonia
• Organ failure
• Acute respiratory distress

If you suffer from any of these within 10 days of handling birds or visiting the avian influenza-infected place, contact the doctor at the earliest.

To keep yourself safe against bird flu, you can follow the given few steps-

• Avoid open-air markets
• Avoid contact with infected birds
• Avoid eating undercooked eggs or chicken

Doctors also suggest getting a flu shot so that you do not develop bird flu and human flu at the same time. If it happens by any chance, that could create another deadly virus. Although there are no restrictions or rules mentioned by CDC against Bird Flu, still keeping yourself safe is important by practising hygiene.

If you have a health insurance policy, it will not only help you deal with the high treatment expense but also give you the peace of mind that even if you are infected by such a dangerous disease, you will have the resources to fight it. Here are some of the best health insurance plan options that you can consider:

Bird flu can cause extreme mental and physical discomfort due to its high infection rate and respiratory problems. It will also bite a big chunk out of your savings if you do not plan for such an instance beforehand. Having the right insurance plan can help in averting such situations. Let us take a look at the benefits of health insurance forBird Flu:

1. It is a serious disease

Many people get infected with Avian influenza every year and have a 60% survival rate. Being covered by a health plan will ensure that you will get quality treatment with a better chance to survive and without having to worry about finances.

2. Minimal Waiting

Most health plans covering bird flu have a very short waiting period, which makes the policy effective.

3. Protection for Family

Most insurance companies offer health insurance for Bird Flu on an individual as well as a family floater basis. This allows you to cover your loved ones too.

4. Easy to Claim

Most health insurance plans for Bird flu are fixed benefits plans that pay the benefit in a lump sum, making the claim procedure quite straightforward.

Though every health plan comes with a specific set of exclusions, there are some common situations that are not covered by most Health Insurance Plans. Given below is an indicative list of the most common exclusions under the bird flu policy. Make sure you go through your policy document to find out about the same:

• Other pre-existing diseases may be covered only after a 24 month or more waiting period
• Self-inflicted injuries are not covered under these health plans
• Health plans do not cover hospitalization caused due to war
• Cosmetic surgeries are not covered under such policies
• Sexually or venereal transmitted diseases are not covered