AVIAN INFLUENZA

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AVIAN INFLUENZA
a WHO/MZCC informational leaflet
for people living in Avian Influenza affecte
d areas

Is an infectious disease of birds caused by the
influenza virus Influenza strain H5N1 has been
transmitted from poultry to humans through direct
contact causing deaths since 1997
Avoid Contact with Domestic or Wild Birds unle
ss it is Absolutely Necessary
World Health Organization Mediterranean Zoonoses
Control Centre ATHENS Greece mzcc_at_ath.forthnet.
grwww.mzcp-zoonoses.gr
Edited by Dr. N. Charisis
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The influenza viruses Replicate easily in huma
ns and animals
Elude host defenses
H5N1 virus (CDC Public Health Image Library)
Thats why vaccines should be adjusted
continuously
A T T E N T I O N THERE IS NO HUMAN VACCINE AVAI
LABLE AT THE TIME BEEN (January 2006)
So the health of you and your family depends on
YOUR hygienic habits
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why Avian Influenza virus is so. dangerous
BECAUSE
Mutates rapidly (can be adapted to other
animal species) Can cause sever
e disease in humans The disease in pou
ltry may be mild with ruffled
feathers and reduced egg production
thus going undetected by the owner.
Surviving birds excrete virus for at least 10 days
The Severe form of the disease is (highly
contagious and fatal)
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It is transmitted easily from poultry to poultry
or from poultry to humans through a) mechan
ical ways - contaminated equipment -
vehicles - feed - cages - cloth
ing b) inhalation of desiccated infected poultr
y faeces.. Can survive for long in the envir
onment especially when temperatures are low.
Therefore Refrigeration of infected meat and
eggs doesnt protect anyone from the virus!!
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SYMPTOMS IN MAN
Clinical Picture Typical influenza-like sympt
oms Fever (380C) dry non productiv
e cough sore throat
headache
muscle
aches Severe Eye infections severe res
piratory distress viral pneumonia
other complications Duration of i
llness Average 13 days Range 5 to 31 days
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How to protect yourself !
Dont let domestic or wild birds entering
the
house
Protect food from insects or rodents
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Find ways to avoid contact of your poultry with
wild birds keep chickens and ducks in en
closed (fenced) hen-houses - dont throw seeds
in the yard -use scarecrows
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Dont transport - live or dead birds - raw
or cooked bird meat
- eggs
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Use long trousers shirts boots gloves and
masks when you collect the eggs or work in a
hen-house. Consider always these cloths conta
minated and keep them outside
of the house. Wash them regularly with boiling
water and soap or detergent
Use protective cloths (masks gloves and
goggles)
for slaughtering poultry
Burn or bury at a depth of 1 meter dead
carcasses faeces and feathers after slaughter
in
infected areas
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REMEMBER Only Heat can KILL influenza virus
- Cook Poultry meat at 700 C (no pink meat
or juices should be observed) - Coo
k eggs for 5 minutes at 700 C
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Do not store raw and cooked food in the
same container Dont cut raw poultry and ot
her meat or food on the same cutting board
(or wash it well after you cut chicken)
Reheat cooked food to at least 700C!
Proper reheating kills microorganisms which
may have developed during storage. This rule
also applies when freshly cooked food is adde
d to leftovers.
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Discard all liquid accumulated during def
rosting of meat and poultry - if refrigerator
shelves table tops or utensils are
soiled with it they should be thoroughly
washed! These liquids may contain disease
-causing micro organisms
Dont eat sick or dead birds ! Dont let P
eople with Influenza symptoms to handle cook or
work near of any kind of food Dont buy l
ive birds for replacement (from
unknown source!) Before you replace your de
ad or culled poultry ask the Authorities for
permission!