People with suspected symptoms of bird flu (avian flu) will be advised to stay at home or will be cared for in hospital in isolation from other patients.

Depending on the type of flu they have, the patient may be kept in isolation for up to 10 days. The main recommendations are:

• rest
• drinking plenty of fluids and eating healthily 
• medications to help treat fever and pain, such as aspirin and paracetamol (aspirin should not be taken by children under the age of 16)

Antiviral medication

In the UK certain antiviral medications have been stockpiled for use in the event of an outbreak. These medications work by stopping the virus from multiplying in your body.

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), Zanamivir (Relenza) and Peramivir (Actrapid) may help reduce the severity of the condition, prevent complications and help improve the chances of survival.

In regular flu, these medications are most effective if given within 48 hours of symptoms developing, but it is not clear if this is the case for bird flu. Nevertheless, they should be given as soon as possible to people suspected or proven to be infected, even if it's more than 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

These medications may also be given as a preventative measure to people who could have been exposed to bird flu viruses – for example other household members, healthcare workers or people who have had close contact with infected birds.

In these cases, the course of medication should begin as soon as possible after exposure to the virus and continue for 7 to 10 days after the last known exposure.

Treating complications

Complications, such as bacterial pneumonia, may develop in some people and can be treated with regular antibiotics.

People who are severely affected may need to be given extra oxygen to help them breathe – for example, through a ventilator (a machine that assists with breathing).