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Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)
Test your Knowledge
Frequently
Asked Questions
What is avian flu (also known as
bird flu or avian influenza)?
Avian flu is an infection caused by a type of
influenza virus carried by birds. Although flu viruses occur naturally
among wild birds, most do not kill them. A new strain of “avian flu”
is causing international concern because it is a particularly virulent
type of influenza virus that is killing domesticated birds such as
chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
How does avian flu spread?
Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and
feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they come in contact with
these secretions. It is believed that most cases of avian flu infection
in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated
surfaces
Do avian flu viruses infect
people?
Avian flu viruses do not usually infect people, but several cases of
human infection with avian flu viruses have occurred since 1997.
What is the risk to humans from
avian flu?
The risk from avian flu is generally low to most people since the
viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect people.
However, during an outbreak of avian flu among poultry (domesticated
chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have
contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces.
The current outbreak of avian flu
among poultry in Asia (see below) is an example of an avian flu outbreak
that has caused human infections and deaths. Outbreaks of a strain of
avian flu (H5N1) occurred among poultry in eight countries in Asia in 2003
and early 2004. At that time, more than 100 million birds in the affected
countries either died from the disease or were killed in order to try to
control the outbreak. By June, 2004, new outbreaks of avian flu
(H5N1)
appeared in poultry in some Asian countries and by 2005, an outbreak
appeared in poultry in Europe. Human infections with this strain of avian
flu (H5N1) have also occurred.
The risk to humans from avian flu
would greatly increase if the avian flu virus were to adapt to humans,
making person-to-person spread possible. In such a situation, a
widespread flu pandemic could occur.
What is a widespread flu pandemic?
An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of influenza (flu) that
occurs when a new strain of flu virus emerges into the human population
and spreads from person to person.
Have widespread flu pandemics
occurred before?
During the 20th century, there were three widespread
flu pandemics, all of which spread around the world within one year of
being detected. These were:
1918-19: “Spanish flu” which
killed more than 500,000 people in the United States and up to 50 million
people worldwide
1957-58: “Asian flu” which
killed about 70,000 people in the United States
1968-69: “Hong Kong flu” which
caused about 34,000 deaths in the United States
Does
a person’s annual flu shot offer protection against avian flu?
No, the annual flu shot provides protection from the currently circulating
strains of influenza. However, the flu strains currently circulating
worldwide are different from the avian flu strain, so that the annual flu
shot does not protect against avian flu.
Is there a vaccine to protect
people from the avian flu?
A vaccine is currently under development, but is
not yet ready for widespread distribution.
What are the symptoms of avian flu
in humans?
Symptoms of avian 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..
How is avian flu in humans
treated?
Studies suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu
viruses would work in treating avian flu infections in humans. However,
since flu viruses can become resistant to these drugs, these medications
may not always work.
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