Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)

What is bird flu (avian influenza A H5N1)?

Bird flu, also called avian influenza A, is a viral infection that occurs in birds. It is carried by wild birds. It can also infect domestic birds, such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys. When it infects birds, it makes them sick and sometimes kills them. There are many strains of influenza. The type of bird flu that is very deadly is called influenza A H5N1.

Viruses often change (mutate). They may then spread more easily among animals and humans. They can also become more deadly. The strain of influenza that is now common in birds in Asia could change into a flu that spreads more easily to humans. National and world health organizations worry that a mutated bird flu virus could cause a world-wide epidemic (pandemic). Many people have at least some immunity to human viruses, which means their body can more easily fight the virus. A pandemic flu happens when there are worldwide epidemics of flu caused by a new flu virus to which people have little or no immunity.

How does it occur?

Currently it is very rare for humans to become infected. The risk from bird flu is generally low to most people because the virus occurs mainly among birds and does not usually infect humans. However, when there is an outbreak of bird flu among domesticated chickens, ducks, turkeys, there is a risk that it will spread from these birds to people. The virus is in the saliva, nasal secretions, blood, and droppings of infected birds. People can become infected by having contact with the infected birds or with surfaces that are dirty from excretions of infected birds.

Very rarely has the infection seemed to have spread from one person to another.

What are the symptoms of bird flu when people have it?

The symptoms of bird flu are similar to the symptoms of human flu. Typical symptoms are:

• headache
• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• muscle aches.

It can cause severe breathing problems.

How is it diagnosed?

Bird flu is diagnosed from your symptoms, a physical exam, and your personal history of possible exposure. Your provider will want to know if you were around dead or sick birds or if you have traveled to an area where the virus is active. Testing for the bird flu virus is done in special labs using blood and samples of mucus from the lungs.

What is the treatment?

Doctors are working to find the best treatment for bird flu in humans. Antiviral medicines, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), may be given. In addition to these medicines, hospital care is usually needed. Treatment at the hospital includes oxygen, help with your breathing, and IV fluids (fluids given into the vein).

How long will the effects last?

Mild cases of bird flu do not usually cause serious problems. More severe infections can cause:

• pneumonia
• severe respiratory disease
• death.

What can be done to prevent bird flu?

Sick or exposed birds are being destroyed in most countries with known bird flu. Nearby farms are being quarantined. Some countries have stopped getting birds from affected countries. Hopefully these actions will stop the spread of the virus. Also, a new rapid test that can diagnose bird flu within hours has been developed. It's 90% accurate. That could be important in controlling outbreaks.

The USFDA recently approved a vaccine that gives humans protection against the bird flu virus. It can be given as a shot to adults from 18 through 64 years of age who are at increased risk of exposure to the H5N1 influenza virus. The vaccine is not available to the public commercially. It cannot be obtained from a doctor's office. It has been purchased by the US federal government for the US Strategic National Stockpile. If it is ever needed, it will be distributed by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

There are no current recommendations against travel to countries where bird flu is common. If you travel to one of these places:

• Avoid all contact with chickens, ducks, or turkeys or any wild birds, and avoid poultry farms and live poultry markets where there could be H5N1-infected poultry. Don't touch surfaces that might be dirty with poultry secretions, blood, or droppings.
• Clean your hands often, using either soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand rubs when soap is not available.
• Do not eat uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products. You will not become infected with the virus from eating infected poultry or eggs if they are thoroughly cooked to a temperature of at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Thorough cooking kills the virus.

If you need to spend time around someone who has bird flu, use a mask that protects you from virus that might be in the saliva or the breath of the infected person.

For more information contact the Centers for Disease Control or visit their Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/.