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About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) & Avian Influenza a H5N1 Virus
FAQ's -
Frequently Asked Questions
What is avian influenza or “bird flu”? Is there more than one type of bird flu? How is bird flu spread to humans? Can you get bird flu from eating chicken or other poultry? What are the symptoms of bird flu? Who is most at risk to contract bird flu? What good are antiviral drugs? Should individuals stock up on flu drugs? What is an influenza pandemic? Is a bird flu pandemic imminent? How many people have caught bird flu so far? What are we doing locally in Pasadena to prepare for bird flu? How can I learn more about the bird flu?
What is avian influenza or “bird flu”? Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. All birds appear to be susceptible, though some species are more resistant to infection than others.
Influenza A H5N1 is the particular subtype of influenza virus that is causing the current epidemic of bird flu in overseas countries. The specific letters and numbers in the virus name allow scientists to differentiate between different subtypes of influenza.
Is there more than one type of bird flu? Other bird flu viruses have spread to humans. One example is the H7N7 bird flu that in 2003 infected a number of people in the Netherlands. This virus usually caused pinkeye in infected people. Fortunately, Dutch authorities controlled the virus before it could spread widely in humans.
How is bird flu spread to humans? 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.
Can you get bird flu from eating chicken or other poultry? No, not if the chicken meat is fully cooked. Cooking kills flu viruses in poultry, including turkey, meat, and eggs. The bird flu virus can survive on raw meat from infected poultry. Proper hygiene –hand washing and disinfecting all surfaces that come in contact with the meat– is essential.
Yes, if you practice good food safety. Egg shells may have been contaminated with bird feces. All eggs should be washed before sale but it is prudent to apply careful hygiene when handling an egg. This includes washing the outside of eggs or washing hands after handling an egg. When separating eggs into yolk and white, do not use bare hands. Proper cooking of eggs is also recommended. Particular care needs to be taken with foods that contain eggs that are not cooked or are used raw, such as mayonnaise and mousse.
What are the symptoms of bird flu? Symptoms of various bird flu viruses in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches to eye infections, pneumonia, and severe respiratory diseases, such as acute respiratory distress and other life-threatening complications.
Who is most at risk to contract bird flu? The elderly, the very young, and those with compromised immune systems have the greatest risks of contracting bird flu. Proximity to the virus in infected birds is necessary as well.
The risk from bird flu is generally low for most people because the virus occurs mainly among birds and does not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry, including domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys, there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds.
Studies done in laboratories suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses should work in preventing bird flu infection in humans. However, flu viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work. Additional studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of these medicines.
There currently is no available vaccine to protect humans against the bird flu virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place. Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005, and a series of clinical trials is underway.
What good are antiviral drugs? Antiviral drugs taken very soon after the onset of symptoms make the illness less severe. The H5N1 virus currently infecting birds and that has caused human illness and death is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, two antiviral medications commonly used for influenza. Two other antiviral medications, oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamavir (Relenza) appear likely to treat flu caused by the H5N1 virus, but additional studies still need to be done to prove their effectiveness.
Should individuals stock up on flu drugs? No. First of all, the drugs are in short supply. And even if you had the drugs on hand, when would you take them? Without a flu test, it is hard to know whether your symptoms are the bird flu or another respiratory infection. Also, keeping these drugs on hand is expensive as they have a short shelf life, expiring in approximately 3-5 years.
What is an influenza pandemic? A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, and begins to cause serious illness spreading easily person-to-person worldwide.
Is a bird flu pandemic imminent? Probably not. But there are many unknowns involved, making accurate prediction impossible. Bird flu is still a bird disease. The H5N1 bird flu in Asia and Europe does not spread well from person-to-person.
The bird flu virus can improve its transmissibility among humans via two principal mechanisms:
What can I do about bird flu? What can the government do? The current risk to Americans from the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Asia and Europe is low. The strain of H5N1 virus found in Asia and Europe has not been found in the United States. There have been no human cases of H5N1 flu in the United States. It is possible that travelers returning from affected countries could be infected if they were directly exposed to the virus.
If a bird flu pandemic occurs, there is a very good way to minimize the chance of getting infected: Wash your hands. Frequent hand washing is the best way to avoid a viral infection – including the flu. Remember to use soap and warm water, scrubbing all parts of the hand.
Should a flu pandemic occur, pay attention to news reports, and follow public health advisories. Panic is the least helpful response to any emergency. When vaccines become available, first responders, such as health and public-safety workers, and the people most at risk will get them first.
How many people have caught bird flu so far? Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO as of February 20, 2008
Total number of
cases includes number of deaths. These deaths are tragic. But many millions of birds have been infected with the virus in some of the most populous regions of the world. Even though confirmed infections may represent a fraction of the total infections, people still run a very low risk of catching the virus from poultry.
Laboratory testing to confirm human infection with H5N1 avian influenza is technically difficult; some tests produce inconclusive or unreliable results. To ensure a reliable assessment of the situation, local health authorities are, after an initial screening, continuing to send samples from people considered likely to have H5N1 infection to WHO reference laboratories for diagnostic confirmation.
What are we doing locally in Pasadena to prepare for bird flu? The City of Pasadena is one of only three cities in California that has its own public health department. The Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) is working closely with Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, American Red Cross, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, our local healthcare providers, and other community based organizations to enhance emergency response plans in the event that bird flu is detected in the United States. PPHD staff is closely monitoring the global avian flu situation, as well as the different clinical trials currently underway to test the efficacy of the flu vaccine and other medicines. Additionally, PPHD has been conducting outreach presentations to educate the public on this issue and will continue to update this website as new developments arise.
A Pandemic Flu Committee, recently established by the Pasadena Public Health Department, is preparing a pandemic flu response plan addressing:
In addition, PPHD continues to emphasize the important practice of safe food handling and preparation every day, including: · Washing hands before and after handling food;
How can I learn more about the bird flu? This web page will be updated periodically as new or changing information becomes available. Other web-based resources include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pandemic Flu website.
PPHD has also set up an info line to address residents concerns and/or questions at (626) 744-6012.
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