Bird Flu Avian Flu

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Bird Flu( Avian Flu )
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How are bird flu viruses different from human flu
viruses
Common Flu Caused by Influenza A,B,C
Influenza Type A Has more than 15
subtypes,denote by H and N strands Present bird
flu Influenza type A, subtype H5N1
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What is avian influenza (bird flu)?
Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird)
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, bird flu is very
contagious among birds and can make some
domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks,
and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

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Natural and Pandemic Cycle
Direct bird to human transmission is also
possible.
Endemic - spread of infection within a local
community or district Epidemic - spread of
infection within the state or country Pandemic
-spread of infection affecting countries or
continents
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What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?

• Fever, cough, muscle ache, runny nose, and sore
  throat
• Some may get eye infections and have difficulty
  breathing.
• Pneumonia or other complications may occur at a
  later stage.

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How does bird flu spread?

• Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva,
  nasal secretions, and feces.
• Susceptible birds become infected when they have
  contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces
  that are contaminated with excretions.
• It is believed that most cases of bird flu
  infection in humans have resulted from contact
  with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.
• The spread of avian influenza viruses from one
  ill person to another has been reported very
  rarely, and transmission has not been observed to
  continue beyond one person.

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How does normal flu spread?

• The main way that flu is spread is from person to
  person through coughs and sneezes.
• This can happen when droplets from the cough or
  sneeze of an infected person travel through the
  air and reach the mouth or nose of people nearby.
  
• Sometimes flu can be spread when a person touches
  droplets, nose drainage or saliva from an
  infected person, or a soiled object, and then
  touches ones own (or someone elses) nose or
  mouth before washing hands.

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How is bird flu in humans treated?

• 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.
• Tamiflu, an anti-viral drug, appears to be
  effective in treating bird flu.

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What is the risk to humans from bird flu?

• The risk from bird flu is generally low to most
  people because the viruses occur mainly among
  birds and do not usually infect humans.
• However, during an outbreak of bird flu among
  poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, 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.
• In such situations, people should avoid contact
  with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and
  should be careful when handling and cooking
  poultry.

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Do bird flu viruses infect humans?

• Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans,
  but several cases of human infection with bird
  flu viruses have occurred since 1997.

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Historic Pandemics

• 1918-1919 Spanish Flu
• A (H1N1)
• 20-50 million deaths worldwide
• 500,000 deaths in the United States
• Nearly half were young, healthy adults
• 1957-1958 Asian Flu
• A (H2N2)
• 1st identified in China Feb. 1957
• Spread to U.S. by June 1957
• 70,000 deaths in the United States
• 1968-1969 Hong Kong Flu
• A (H3N2)
• 1st detected in Hong Kong early 1968
• Spread to U.S. later that year
• Approx 34,000 deaths in the United States
• Virus still circulating today

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H5N1 Outbreak in Asia

• Began mid-December 2003
• Countries Affected (confirmed in poultry)
• Cambodia China Indonesia North Korea
• Hong Kong Laos Japan
• South Korea Thailand Vietnam
• January 2004 in humans, Vietnam and Thailand
• All genes are of bird origin
• Slight variations in circulating H5N1 virus

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How is Bird Flu Monitored?

• WHO ( World Health Organization ) and CDC (
  Centers For Disease Control and Prevention )
  maintain regional labs that test both bird and
  human specimens
• Periodic updates are provided
• The lab surveillance permits implementation of
  control measures if needed
• Vaccine trials are underway for the H5N1 strain,
  but are in early phases

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Who Should Get Flu Vaccination

• People above 65 years
• Pregnant mothers
• People with medical conditions such as
• Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, HIV\AIDS, brain
  injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure
  or other nerve disorders, chronic heart or lung
  conditions including asthma.

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Who Should Not Get Flu Vaccination

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  
• People who have had a severe reaction to an
  influenza vaccination in the past.
• Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in
  children less than 6 months of age.
• People who are having fever should wait until
  their symptoms lessen before vaccination.

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Good Health Habits

• Good health habits are also an important way to
  help prevent the Flu.
• Avoid close contact.Avoid close contact with
  people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your
  distance from others to protect them from getting
  sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick.If possible, stay
  home from work, school, and errands when you are
  sick. You will help prevent others from catching
  your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose.Cover your mouth and
  nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It
  may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands.Washing your hands often will
  help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.Germs
  are often spread when a person touches something
  that is contaminated with germs and then touches
  his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

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Is it safe to eat chickens, eggs, and other
poultry products?

• The poultry and eggs available in the market are
  safe to eat
• No evidence that you can get bird flu by eating
  chicken, eggs
• and other poultry

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What about canned poultry products?

• The poultry and eggs available in the market are
  safe to eat
• No evidence that you can get bird flu by eating
  chicken, eggs
• and other poultry

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Tips for cooking poultry

• Separate raw food from cooked food
• Wash your hands before and after preparing food
• Cook poultry meat thoroughly
• Avoid eating raw or half-boiled eggs or
  hemi-cooked meat

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Businesses, employers and employees can help
prevent thespread of colds and flu in the
workplace.

• General Flu Information
• -Heath talk, notice board
• Flu Vaccine Information
• -Discounted rates from selected panel clinic
• Printable Materials and Other Tools for Flu
  Prevention
• -Flyers, e-mail, vaccination
• Additional Resources
• -Internet, News, Health Ministry

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Notice To Travelers

• Precautions
• To minimize the possibility of infection, please
  observe precautions to safeguard your health.
• Avoid contact with live poultry (e.g., chickens,
  ducks, geese, pigeons, quail) or any wild birds.
• Do not eat uncooked or undercooked poultry or
  poultry products, including dishes made with
  uncooked poultry blood.
• Wash your hands frequently.

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Health Advice Upon Return

• Monitor your health for 10 days.
• If you become ill with fever and develop a cough
  or difficulty breathing, or if you develop any
  illness during this 10-day period, consult a
  health-care provider.
• Limit contact with others as much as possible to
  help prevent the spread of any infectious
  illness.