Bird Flu

What is the Avian Flu?
Avian “bird” flu is an infection caused by avian influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines but usually do not get sick from them. However, the avian flu is very contagious among domesticated bird flocks and can make them very sick and kill them. The current avian flu strain is present in some wild birds across the world. 

Can it infect humans?
Not usually but more than 160 human cases have been confirmed worldwide since 2004. There are of this posting, no record of human-to-human transmission of the virus. Human infection can be due to direct or close contact with:

• Infected poultry
• Surfaces contaminated with secretions from infected birds
• Very rarely from person to person contact

What are symptoms of the virus in humans?

• Symptoms are similar to seasonal flu
• Fever
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Cough
• Weakness

Special Symptoms

• Conjunctivitis
• Pneumonia
• Dyspnea
• Renal failure
• Bleeding
• Shock
• Multi-organ failure
• Death

How is bird flu treated?

• Currently there are no vaccines for the current strain of the avian flu. (The World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that it will take a minimum of 6 months after identifying a particular flu strain to produce a vaccine)
• There is little or no immune protection against the virus in the human population
• Some prescription medications and potent antiviral's such as Tami flu and Relenza have shown “some” limited help in treating the virus. However, the virus can become resistant to theses drugs so they may not always work.

Will the current seasonal flu vaccine protect me?

• No, however it is recommended that you and you family receive the seasonal flu vaccine as precaution. (Seasonal flu kills nearly 36,000 people yearly in the United States.)

Am I at risk by eating poultry?

• There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry or eggs can be a source of avian flu infection.
• The U.S. bans importation of poultry from countries affected by the virus.

What can I do to prepare?

• Be informed and stay informed
• Practice good hand hygiene: wash hands often especially after touching common objects such as door knobs, use hand sanitizers
• Practice good health hygiene: carry tissues and handkerchiefs, cough or sneeze into the tissue or sleeve not your hand, avoid shaking hands
• Be more health conscious: quit smoking, exercise regularly, improve eating habits, get regular checkups, get regular and sufficient sleep
• Stockpile enough food, water, N95 masks, and gloves to last several weeks if not months
• Be ready to stay home (See shelter-in-place info on this site)