NCDC Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, announced Tuesday in Abuja that seven states in Nigeria have recorded human cases of Avian Influenza H5N1, also called “Bird flu”.
According to NCDC the affected states are Kano, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states
Our correspondent reports that Avian Influenza has strains of the influenza virus that primarily infects birds but can also infect humans.
This type of flu is most often contracted by contact with sick birds, and can also be passed from person to person. It spreads by airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes).
Symptoms begin within two to eight days, and are like the common flu. Cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache and shortness of breath may occur.
Details later ……..