The Bird Flu Situation

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TheBird FluSituation
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Facts about Bird Flu
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What is Bird Flu?

• A highly contagious poultry diseasecaused by a
  virus
• Can infect a variety of other birds
• Domestic poultry such aschickens and
  turkeysmost susceptible

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How do humans get infected?

• Through close contact with infected birdse.g.
  breathing in particles from their droppings
• Rare for bird flu to infect humans
• No evidence of human-to-human transmission to
  dateaccording to WHO

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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 infectionsand have difficulty
  breathing
• Pneumonia or othercomplications may occurat a
  later stage

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Can bird flu be cured?

• Tamiflu, an anti-viral drug, appears to be
  effective in treating bird flu
• Further testing being doneto confirm
  effectiveness

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Past cases of Bird Flu infecting humans

• Hong Kong (1997)
• H5N1 virus infected both chickens and humans
• First time an avian influenza virus found to
  transmit directly from birds to humans
• 18 people hospitalised and 6 died
• 1.5 million chickens killed
• Virus spread primarily from birds to humans rare
  person-to-person infection noted

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Past cases of Bird Flu infecting humans

• Netherlands (2003)
• H7N7 virus infections among poultry workers and
  their families in the Netherlands during an
  outbreak of avian flu among poultry
• More than 80 cases of H7N7 illness reported and 1
  patient died

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Bird Flu Outbreak 2004

• In birds Outbreaks of H5N1 virus confirmed among
  poultry in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong (in a
  single peregrine falcon), Indonesia, Japan, Laos,
  South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam (as at 4 Feb
  2004)
• In people Cases of H5N1 infection in Vietnam and
  Thailand. Deaths have been reported.

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The Situation in Singapore
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Should I be alarmed?

• Bird flu is NOT a significant public health
  threat to Singapore
• There are few poultry farms in Singapore, and the
  slaughter of poultry is not carried out in wet
  markets

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What has been done?

• Imports of live poultry and birds, poultry meat
  and eggs from bird flu-affected countries banned
• Stepped-up inspection and testing of imported
  eggs and poultry at points of entry
• Stepped-up checks onlocal poultry farmsand
  slaughterhouses

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What has been done?

• Farms required to implement biosecurity measures
  e.g. bird-proofing poultry houses, disinfecting
  vehicles
• Farm and slaughterhouse employees briefed on how
  to recognise signs of bird flu, and required to
  report unusual deathsor suspicion of the disease
• Farms closed to visitors

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Are we prepared for an outbreak?

• Within an hour of the first bird flu case being
  detected, AVA and related agencies will be
  mobilised to control the situation
• All hospitals and doctors advised to be on alert
• Suspected cases will be sent to Tan Tock Seng
  Hospital for assessment, and to Communicable
  Diseases Centre 2 for isolation if necessary

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Culling plans

• Will start culling all birds in local farms as
  soon as clinical signs of bird flu appear with
  positive test results
• All farms will be sealed up during culling
• Eggs produced will be destroyed
• Ex-gratia payment will be made to owners of the
  farms for the poultry culled
• Measures necessary to eradicate disease,
  safeguard public health and maintain public
  confidence

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Eatingchickensand other poultry
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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 cannedpoultry products?

• Canned poultry products such as essence of
  chicken are also safe to eat
• All canned productsundergo a heat
  treatmentprocess that effectivelydestroys any
  viruses

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Food Supply

• With more countries affected by bird flu, prices
  may go up temporarily
• Shortfall could be met by
• Alternative sources
• Buffer stocks of frozen poultry meat
• Liquid and powdered eggs

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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 orhalf-boiled eggs
  orsemi-cooked meat

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Live Birdsin Singapore
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Can other birds spread the disease?

• Crows, mynahs and pigeons in Singapore are not
  knownto carry bird flu.
• Migratory birds can becarriers.
• AVA, NParks and NEA conduct regular checks
• on birds in Singapore.
• So far, no flu viruseshave been detected

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Is it safe to visit the Jurong Bird Park and the
Zoo?

• Singapore is free from bird flu
• It is safe to go to places where birds can be
  founde.g. Sungei Buloh,Jurong Bird Park or the
  Zoo

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Is it safe to keep birds or poultry as pets?

• All imported live birds monitored by AVA for
  infectious diseases
• Risk of pet birds getting infected low
• Precaution Keep birds inenclosure so that they
  do notcome into contact with wild birds
• Wash your hands thoroughlywith soap after
  handling your pets

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What are the signs of infection?

• Sudden death
• Lack of energy and appetite
• Swelling of head, eyelids,comb, wattles and legs
• Purple discolouration of thewattles and combs
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing and sneezing
• Diarrhoea

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Who can help if I decided to give up my pet birds
or chickens?

• AVAs Centre for Animal Welfare and Control can
  help put down your pets humanely
• Hotline Number 1800-476 1600

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Travelling Overseas
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Is it safe to visit countries with cases of bird
flu?

• WHO has not advised any travel restrictions so
  far
• No quarantined when you return
• When visiting affected countries, avoid farms and
  live poultry and birds, and adopt good hygiene
  practices

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Should I get vaccinated against influenza before
I travel?

• MOH recommendation
• Children aged 6 months and older shouldbe
  vaccinated if travelling to temperate countries
  in the Northern Hemisphere
• Persons likely to beexposed to infectedchickens
  or farmsshould alsobe vaccinated

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Should I get vaccinated against influenza before
I travel?

• Purpose of vaccination is to avoid risk of people
  being infected bybird and humanvirus at
  thesame time

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What should I do if I suspect I have bird flu?

• Consult your doctor immediately if you have had
  contact with live birds or travelled to a country
  which has cases of bird flu
• Or call 993 for a special ambulance to take you
  to the Communicable Disease Centre for evaluation

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Sources of information

• Internet websites
• www.birdflu.gov.sg
• www.epic.gov.sg
• www.ava.gov.sg
• www.moh.gov.sg

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Sources of information

• AVA Hotline[phone]
• MOH Hotline[phone]

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ThankYou