With the media spotlight surrounding Avian (Bird) Flu, we wanted to provide some basic facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
It is extremely important to note that this information is subject to change based on clinical and research findings regarding bird flu.
To stay as current as possible, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/avian regularly.
The Facts:
Influenza (the flu) and Avian Influenza (bird flu) are not the same thing.
Some bird flu symptoms in humans are similar to typical flu-like symptoms, but other symptoms are more severe.
Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans.
No evidence exists to suggest that you can become infected by eating poultry.
There is no commercially available vaccine available.
A regular flu shot will not protect you from Avian (bird) flu however it will still protect you from the normal flu strains, possibly allowing for quicker diagnosis of bird flu if you show symptoms.
The best way to protect yourself from Avian (bird) flu is to follow the same basic protocols as you would against the common cold or typical flu strains.
Sentara Healthcare and Optima Health are developing plans to cope in the event a bird flu pandemic strikes.
Details About The Facts:
Influenza (the flu) and Avian Influenza (bird flu) are not the same thing.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe symptoms and may lead to death.
Avian influenza (Bird Flu) is an infection caused by bird influenza viruses. These specialized flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Some wild birds worldwide carry these viruses in their intestines but do not get sick from them. Bird flu is very contagious among birds and can be fatal to domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks and turkeys.
While both conditions are respiratory illnesses caused by Type A influenza, they are not the same. When we say “bird flu” viruses, we are referring to influenza subtypes chiefly found in birds, which do not usually infect humans.
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Some Bird Flu Symptoms in humans are similar to typical flu-like symptoms but other symptoms are more severe.
Symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms may depend on which bird flu strain a victim is exposed to, but the death rate appears to be high.
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Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans.
Still, some rare cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported but is still a very rare event, and transmission has not continued beyond one person.
These cases have occurred in areas of the world where sanitation is poor and where people physically share the same living space with their domestic birds.
Since January, 2004 human cases of bird flu infection that have occurred in the countries of Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iraq, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Turkey have coincided with bird flu outbreaks in poultry. The majority of theses cases have been directly transmitted from bird to human.
No cases have been reported in the United States.
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No evidence exists to suggest that you can become infected by eating poultry.
The World Health Organization does not consider bird flu a food-borne disease, and no evidence exists to suggest that people are likely to become infected from eating properly handled poultry and eggs.
People who handle poultry are most at risk.
Cooked meat kills viruses, the risk is from infected birds that are still alive or have recently died. This means that the person who killed an infected chicken, butchered it, or prepared it for cooking would be at greater risk than the one who ate it.
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There is no commercially available vaccine available.
There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect humans from bird flu viruses. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place.
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A regular flu shot will not protect you from Avian (bird) flu.
However, if you have been vaccinated against the flu and develop flu-like symptoms, your physician, based on patient history and assessment, may be able to diagnose bird flu more quickly and treat you accordingly with medication. The same steps that can protect you from the common cold should be taken to protect you from the flu.
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Follow the same basic protocols to protect yourself from Avian (bird) flu as you would from the common cold or regular flu.
The best way to protect yourself is:
- Get a flu shot each year
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- If you are sick, stay home and avoid exposure to others
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing then throw the tissue away immediately.
- Most importantly WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN, especially after coughing or sneezing, before and after food preparation, after bathroom use, after handling animals and animal waste, when your hands are dirty and more often when someone at home is sick
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Sentara Healthcare and Optima Health are developing plans to cope in the event a bird flu pandemic strikes.
Sentara Healthcare has assembled system-wide experts to design and deliver a disaster plan that will be initiated in the case of flu pandemic.
Quick Links:
Common Questions and Answers about Bird Flu
Tips for Protecting Yourself from Bird Flu (and other germs)
CDC Web site on Avian Flu