Not just for the birds?

Flu season is just around the corner, and this year, you can count on yet another disease to whip America into a germophobic frenzy—the bird flu. Since health officials are concerned it could become the next large-scale plague, we talked to experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see how it stacks up against old-school influenza.—Cecilia Wong

AVIAN FLU
What is it? A virus that lives in the intestines of wild birds. Birds infect other birds through feces, saliva and nasal secretions.

How do you get it? Contact with contaminated surfaces or infected poultry, e.g., an infected bird poops on a table, you touch the table and rub your eyes. The good news: It currently can only be passed from birds to humans.

First recorded U.S. outbreak None

Media frenzy While the World Health Organization has been warning nations over the last two years to build up stocks of anti-viral drugs, the media has just recently been reporting that the virus could mutate, allowing it to pass from human to human—which could lead to a worldwide pandemic. Humans do not have any resistance to the virus, and only when/if the virus mutates and they start treating cases, will health workers know what treatment course to take.

Symptoms Fever, coughing, sore throat and muscles, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, other respiratory diseases

How does it kill you? Pneumonia, multi-organ failure

Who's at risk? Right now, people who come into direct contact with infected secretions, such as poultry workers.

Number of people killed to date in the U.S. None, but there have been 61 reported deaths worldwide.

Treatment Tamiflu and Relenza have proven effective in preventing death if administered within 48 hours. There is no vaccine, but researchers are working on one in Southeast Asia.

What you should do Do not touch dead birds or bird poop. If you travel to places where cases have been reported, avoid places where you might come in contact with poultry—alive or dead. Make sure all poultry is well cooked. And, of course, wash your hands frequently. The prevention suggestions listed for regular flu (see right) can help if avian flu does hit.

INFLUENZA
What is it? A virus that can infect the human respiratory tract

How do you get it? It's most commonly spread via coughing or sneezing, and less frequently through droplet contact (i.e., a person touches an infected object and then his or her mouth).

First recorded U.S. outbreak Influenza is older than God. There are no records kept of the first outbreak.

Media frenzy Vaccines came late in the season last year, but this year the stock is adequate. "The virus mutates from year to year, that's why you have to get a new one every year," Poslusny says. Flu shots last about six months before immunity starts to fade. Nasally-administered FluMist lasts for a year; but since it contains a live virus, it is not given to those with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms Fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose and muscle aches

How does it kill you? Pneumonia and dehydration—and if a person already suffers from a chronic or serious medical condition (like asthma or diabetes), the flu might worsen it.

Who's at risk? The elderly and kids. People with compromised immune systems or chronic conditions; pregnant women.

Number of people killed to date in the U.S. Since it mainly aggravates an already existing disease, it's rarely attributed as a cause of death. On average, about 36,000 Americans die each year from flu-related complications.

Treatment Lots of rest, fluids and over-the-counter flu relievers, or in severe cases, antiviral drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza

What you should do Get a flu shot or the FluMist vaccine, adequate sleep and good nutrition. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing and wash your hands afterward.