This can vary, depending on the age and health of the infected person. In general, healthy adults can infect others from 1 day before they begin to feel sick to about 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Young children and people with chronic illnesses can infect others for about a week or more.

Mumps virus has been found in respiratory secretions 3 days before the start of symptoms until 9 days after onset. Although mumps virus has been detected on rare occasions for up to 9 days after symptom onset, the patient is most infectious within the first 5 days.

The "contagious" period varies, but it probably begins the day before symptoms appear and extends for about one week after the first symptoms appeared.

The flu, much like the common cold, is airborne and can be easily transmitted from person to person. When a person infected with the flu virus sneezes, coughs, or even speaks, microscopic droplets that contain the virus are expelled into the air, which, if inhaled, can infect others. The flu can also be transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

All natural H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infections in domestic cats reported to date appear to have been associated with outbreaks in domestic or wild birds and acquired through ingestion of raw meat likely infected with the H5N1 HPAI virus. Fortunately, there is no evidence to date that domestic cats play a role in the natural transmission cycle of H5N1 HPAI viruses.

There is not enough information available about H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection in dogs to know how infection would develop. Domestic cats in Europe appear to have become infected by eating infected poultry or wild birds. Details concerning a case of H5N1 infection in a dog in October 2004 were recently published; the dog was infected after it ate the carcass of an infected duck. View the report on the CDC Web site.

Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.

The bird flu virus is found in the saliva, nasal secretions, and feces of an infected bird. People need to have close contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated with their excretions to get bird flu. There is no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of the virus at this time.

Avian flu is spread through contact with the avian flu virus, found in the saliva, nasal secretions, and feces of infected birds. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.

Direct person-to-person spread of brucellosis is extremely rare. Mothers who are breast-feeding may transmit the infection to their infants. Sexual transmission has also been reported. For both sexual and breast-feeding transmission, if the infant or person at risk is treated for brucellosis, their risk of becoming infected will probably be eliminated within 3 days. Although uncommon, transmission may also occur via contaminated tissue transplantation.

A blood test can determine whether or not a person is infected with HIV. The most commonly used test detects antibodies (disease-fighting proteins) against HIV. It may take as long as three to six months for HIV antibodies to reach levels that are measurable in standard blood tests.

The period when an infected person is contagious depends on the age and health of the person. Studies show that most healthy adults may be able to infect others from 1 day prior to becoming sick and for 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Some young children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer than a week.

To date, the U.S. State Department, CDC and WHO have not issued any travel alerts or warnings for avian flu-infected areas. However, the CDC advises travelers to countries in Asia with documented H5N1 outbreaks to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces or fluids from poultry or other animals.

Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces (droppings). Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions.

It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission so far.

There have been reports of the bird flu in North America, but it is a different strain that is not as dangerous as the H5N1 virus. So far the deadly virus H5N1 has yet to show up in America. But experts say they wouldn't be surprised if it does. It could come from a wild bird that will carry it in from Asia or Europe as they head back north in the spring to nesting grounds in the Arctic. It may arrive first in far western Canada, Alaska, parts of the U.S.

Clean your hands often, using either soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand rubs, which removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission. Cover your cough and discard exposed tissue. Do not go to work sick This agency is an equal provider of services and an equal employment opportunity employer-Civil Rights Act 1964 (CRA) I have reviewed or received a copy of Portage County Health Department's HIPAA Policy.

To help prevent its spread, many Governments and health officials are working hard to bring about a greater civilian awareness of the dangers of avian flu and the importance of swift precautionary action when new cases are identified or infections suspected in both birds and/or humans.

The World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Nebraska Health & Human Services System and local health departments are watching for the first signs of an emerging pandemic. In 1918, pandemic flu spread across the country in less than a month. Now, in the era of international air travel, experts say a pandemic will probably spread even faster. As a result:

Answer: This depends on the mode of the HIV transmission and the lifestyle of the HIV positive person. Majority of persons who are infected through blood transfusion develop symptoms on an average from 3 years to 5 years. With the other modes of transmission when the quantum of the virus is low, the person can remain healthy for 8 to 12 years or longer.

If there are sudden changes to the body with human-like influenza symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, pneumonia, muscle aches, eye infections, and severe respiratory diseases, be prepared to have a check-up with a healthcare provider. Personal hygiene must be watched carefully with touching other persons and surfaces.

In the instances where people were infected with the bird flu, they caught the virus through close contact with infected chickens. For example, you would need for the infected chicken to sneeze or cough directly in your face, before the virus can be transmitted to you.

Studies of families of HIV-infected people have found that HIV is not spread through sharing utensils, towels, bedding, or toilet facilities. Behaviors that increase the likelihood of contact with blood from an HIV-infected person, such as sharing a razor or toothbrush, should be avoided.

Yes they can. In fact, waterfowls are known to be reservoirs of infection. The avian flu virus does not harm these waterfowls. However the waterfowls can spread the avian flu virus to humans. These waterfowls are therefore "carriers" of avian flu.

There is no evidence that bird flu is a risk to dogs. Recently, there have been reports of a canine influenza virus in the U.S. but this is a different flu virus that affects only dogs. There is evidence from the Asian outbreak that the bird flu virus might affect cats fed raw poultry, but there is currently no cause for concern because the virus is not present in the U.S.