What You Need
to Know About
Avian Flu
Separating Fact
from Fiction
Muntu R. Davis, M.D., M.P.H.
Deputy Health Officer
Alameda County Public Health
Department
Commonly Used Terms
Term
Law Enforcement
Public Health
Case
A body of evidence
A person with
the disease of
interest
Suspect
A person under
suspicion
A person who
may be a case
Surveillance
Watching
individuals
Tracking disease
Proof of a crime
Information used
to identify and/or
to treat disease
Evidence
What is avian influenza?
(Also known as avian flu or ‘bird flu’)
An infection caused by viruses that
normally cause disease in birds, e.g.,
waterfowl, shorebirds or poultry
(chickens, ducks, and turkeys), and,
less commonly, in pigs.
•
What is so special about
the current outbreaks of
avian flu in poultry?
Largest and most severe on record
Many countries affected
simultaneously
Avian influenza A (H5N1), especially
difficult to control
150 million birds dead or destroyed,
but virus now considered endemic
(occurring within a specific area or
region)
Spreading due to bird
migration patterns
Do bird flu viruses
infect people?
Not usually.
However, a growing number of
cases of human infection with
bird flu viruses, mainly in
Southeast Asia, have occurred
since 1997.
How do people become
infected?
Outbreak of avian flu in poultry
(chicken, ducks, turkeys)
plus
Contact with infected poultry or
surfaces contaminated with excretions
from infected birds
means
Possible risk of avian flu to person
What about eating
chicken and eggs?
To date, no studies have linked any
human cases of avian flu to eating
poultry products.
•
What are the symptoms
of bird flu in people?
Fever
Cough
Typical flu-like
symptoms
Sore throat
Muscle aches
Eye infections
Difficulty breathing due to pneumonia
Other severe and life-threatening
complications
Is it here yet?
No.
There has been no detection
of the H5N1 virus found in Asia
and Europe and no human
cases of avian flu in the United
States to date.
So, why all of the
attention and fear?
Reason #1:
Overlap of bird migratory
flyways with outbreak areas
Reason #2:
Influenza pandemics have
happened in the past
‘Spanish flu’, 1918-19, caused by
H1N1
‘Asian flu’, 1957-58, caused by
H2N2**
‘Hong Kong flu’, 1968-69, caused by
H3N2**
•
** These were caused by new
viruses, containing both human and
avian genes.
Influenza Pandemic
Appearance of new influenza virus in
humans to which the human
population has little or no immunity
Ability of the virus to replicate and
cause disease in large numbers
Spreads easily from person-toperson
Spread to another continent
The 1918 influenza virus infected
~30% of the world's population and
killed up to 40 million individuals,
particularly young people
Reason #3:
Avian influenza A (H5N1)
virus new to humans
All prerequisites for a pandemic to start except
human-to-human transmission
More severe and difficult to control than
most avian strains
New animals infected for first time
Little or no immunity in humans
Ducks have virus with no symptoms, but
excrete virus, so sustainable reservoir
Human cases concentrated in previously
healthy children and young adults
Reason #4:
Viral gene re-assortment
Re-assortant
virus
Will the flu shot protect
from bird flu?
There is no vaccine currently to protect
from bird flu.
•
However, flu shots will protect you from
common influenza viruses that
commonly cause severe flu in people.
•
**Ask your doctor about if you should
get a flu shot.
•
What about the
pneumonia shot?
This is for pneumonia caused by
certain bacteria, not viruses.
•
However, pneumonia shots will protect
you from 23 of the most common types
of Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria,
which cause pneumonia, blood
poisoning and meningitis.
•
**Ask your doctor about if you should
get a pneumonia shot.
•
What if I had
pneumonia before?
Again, this is a new virus to humans
and, therefore, the general population
will have little or no immunity to it.
•
What should travelers do
when traveling to infected
countries?
Know the signs and symptoms of bird flu.
Get up-to-date vaccinations.
Get a physical check-up at least 4 weeks
prior to travel.
Practice good hygiene; wash your hands
frequently with soap and water.
Avoid poultry farms and live animal
markets.
Do not feed pigeons or other birds.
Wash your hands immediately after
contact with birds or poultry.
Do not eat undercooked poultry.
Do not eat raw eggs or dip cooked food into
any sauce containing raw eggs.
Listen to the news and stay informed if there
is an outbreak.
•
After you return from your travel:
Monitor your health for 10 days.
If you develop flu-like symptoms within 10
days of your return, call your doctor. It is
important to tell your doctor that you have
recently traveled to a country with a known
bird flu outbreak.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization,
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
Public Health Resources
for an Influenza Pandemic
Public Health Departments
Help educate about diseases,
diagnosis and treatment
Epidemiologists
Disease surveillance (study disease,
find source and characteristics) and
track new cases
Scientists
Identify agents and provide technical
information
Stay informed! Visit these websites for more
information about Avian Flu.
•
•
Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
CDC Notice to Travelers:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_influenza_se_as
ia_2005.htm
Thank you !
Questions?