How do humans become infected?
Top A: The virus is found in the droppings (feces), nasal secretions, tissues (including blood), and saliva of infected birds. Inhalation and contamination of mucous membranes, such as the mouth, eyelids, or nasal passages (via contaminated hands), and consumption of infected meat that is improperly cooked are the most common routes of infection for humans. To date, transmission of the virus to humans has occurred almost exclusively from exposure to infected poultry, their droppings, or their products. Currently, there are only a few cases where human-to-human transmission is thought to have occurred. In those cases, the virus was only transmitted to a small number of people who were from the same family. This transmission may have been the result of close contact with infected birds or sick family members. It is also possible the members of those families share a genetic tendency for infection with the virus because disease was found only among relatives of direct blood relation (such
