Bird Flu (cont.)
Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Medical Author:
Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP
Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACPMary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. IN THIS ARTICLE
When to Seek Medical CareFor any flu-like illness, call a doctor as soon as possible to see if an antiviral medication (for example, oseltamivir [Tamiflu]) should be taken. The medication may shorten the course of the illness or lessen the symptoms. Mention any contact with sick or dead poultry or recent travel to an area affected by bird flu. However, as stated by the CDC, "oseltamivir and zanamivir would probably work to treat influenza caused by H5N1 (bird flu) virus, but additional studies still are needed to be done to demonstrate their effectiveness." For travelers to one of the affected countries where bird flu has been observed, see a doctor immediately if a respiratory illness with fever develops. Most clinicians agree that people with diagnosed or even suspected bird flu usually require hospitalization. Must Read Articles Related to Bird Flu
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