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Avian Influenza
Key points about Avian Influenza
- There is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time.
- Also, it is important to remember that H5N1 avian influenza is almost exclusively a disease of birds. The H5N1 virus has not yet appeared in the U.S.
- Should the H5N1 virus appear in the U.S., it does not mean the start of a pandemic.
- There are many different strains of avian influenza, or “bird flu” that occur naturally in wild birds. There are a few strains known to cause
severe illness in birds.
- When domesticated poultry such as chickens and turkeys are infected with these strains they become very sick and many die.
Oregon fact sheet on Avian Influenza
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) fact sheet
CDC Questions and Answers
What is avian flu?
Avian flu is a type of influenza that occurs naturally among wild birds. A few of these strains have caused severe disease in poultry.
One such strain, an influenza A H5N1 virus, has caused outbreaks in poultry and sporadic cases in humans throughout Asia since 1997.
How common is Avian Influenza?
As of May 8, 2006 there have been 207 confirmed human cases of H5N1 around the world since 2003. Confirmed human cases around the world
What is the risk to humans?
The people who have become sick with H5N1 avian influenza have been those with close contact with infected poultry. Spread of
the virus from person to person has not been documented.
The current risk to Americans from the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak is low. The highly pathogenic strain of the virus has not
been found in the United States. There have been no human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in the United States. However, it is possible
that travelers to affected countries could become infected.
What are the symptoms of Avian Influenza?
The symptoms of avian influenza in people range from typical flu-like
symptoms (such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches), to
- eye infections,
- pneumonia,
- acute respiratory distress,
- diarrhea,
- brain disease, and other severe and life-threatening complications.
What is the government doing to prepare for avian flu?
Federal and state agricultural agencies are conducting ongoing poultry surveillance and plans are in place for how to contain the disease if it were detected.
Those plans include disposal of dead birds and protecting workers. Federal and state wildlife agencies have begun surveillance for H5N1 in migratory birds
in some areas of the US and are in the process of expanding this to more areas.
Is the Oregon medical community prepared for avian flu?
The infectious disease and infection control communities at Oregon hospitals are informed, and educational efforts for other clinicians are on-going.
If there's no vaccine, what can I do to protect myself?
Currently, the Asian strain of H5N1 influenza is not present in North America. People should take standard precautions to protect themselves
from illness by practicing good personal hygiene and health habits. Frequent, thorough hand washing, cover your cough, and don't go to work when you are sick.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not currently recommend that the public avoid travel to countries affected by H5N1.
However, during travel to an affected area, you should avoid contact with poultry and any place where live poultry are raised or kept, such as poultry
farms and live bird markets.
If you are travelling to another country
When planning an international trip, check the CDC Web site or call their public information hotline at 1-888-246-2675 for the latest travel
advice.
- The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) currently advises travelers to countries with known outbreaks of avian
influenza to avoid poultry farms and bird markets where live poultry are raised or kept. Avoid any surfaces that appear to be
contaminated with poultry feces or secretions.
- Wash your hands frequently. Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels when soap and water are not available and when hands are not
visibly soiled.
- Influenza virus is destroyed by heat. Thoroughly cook all parts of the poultry (no “pink” parts) and that eggs, too, are properly cooked (no “runny” yolks).
- After return from travel, monitor your health for 10 days.
If you become ill with fever and develop a cough or difficulty breathing during this 10-day period, be sure to tell your healthcare
provider about your travel and whether you visited poultry farms or came into close contact with someone who had been diagnosed
with avian influenza, or with animals in live bird markets, or any surfaces that appeared to be contaminated with droppings from
poultry or other animals.
- If you are not feeling well, wash your hands frequently and cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching
or kissing friends and family members, avoid public gatherings, and stay a safe distance (more than three feet) away from other people
to avoid spreading your illness.
For more information:
Oregon Department of Human Services - Avian Flu website
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife - report sick or dead wild birds 541-231-9271
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Federal Health & Human Services
Information for poultry farms and domestic birds
Oregon Department of Agriculture - domestic birds
Guidance for poultry workers
Avian Influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral inflection caused by the influenza virus Type "A," which can affect several species of food producing birds
(chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.) as well as pet birds and wild birds.
Report sick or dead domestic birds (poultry, pet birds) to the
Oregon Department of Agriculture 503-986-4680.
Know the signs of AI in poultry:
- Sudden death without clinical signs
- Lack of energy and appetite
- Decreased egg production and/ or soft shelled or misshapen eggs
- Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
- Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs
- Nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing
- Incoordination
- Diarrhea
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