Diseases and Conditions
Bird flu (avian influenza)
Bird flu vaccine
Laboratory tests
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Preparing for an appointment
Complications
People with bird flu may develop life-threatening complications, including:
- Pneumonia
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Respiratory failure
- Kidney dysfunction
- Heart problems
Although bird flu may kill more than half the people it infects, the number of fatalities is still low because so few people have had bird flu. Fewer than 500 bird flu deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization since 1997.
In contrast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that seasonal influenza is responsible for thousands of deaths each year in the United States alone.
