Post on 18-Dec-2015
What You Need to Know About Avian
Flu
Muntu R. Davis, M.D., M.P.H.Deputy Health Officer
Alameda County Public Health Department
Separating Fact from Fiction
Commonly Used Terms
TermLaw
EnforcementPublic Health
CaseA body of evidence
A person with the disease of
interest
SuspectA person under
suspicionA person who may be a case
SurveillanceWatching
individualsTracking disease
Evidence Proof of a crime
Information used to
identify and/or to treat disease
What is avian influenza?
An infection caused by viruses that normally cause disease in
birds, e.g., waterfowl, shorebirds or poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys), and, less commonly, in
pigs.
(Also known as avian flu or ‘bird flu’)
What is so special about the current
outbreaks of avian flu in poultry?
Largest and most severe on record
Many countries affected simultaneously
Avian influenza A (H5N1), especially difficult to control
150 million birds dead or destroyed, but virus now considered endemic (occurring within a specific area or region)
Spreading due to bird migration patterns
Do bird flu viruses infect people?
Not usually.
However, a growing number of cases of human infection with bird flu viruses, mainly
in Southeast Asia, have occurred since 1997.
How do people become infected?
Outbreak of avian flu in poultry (chicken, ducks, turkeys)
plus
Contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated with
excretions from infected birds
means
Possible risk of avian flu to person
What about eating chicken and eggs?
To date, no studies have linked any human cases of avian flu to
eating poultry products.
What are the symptoms of bird flu
in people?
Typical flu-like symptoms
FeverCough
Sore throat
Muscle aches
Eye infectionsDifficulty breathing due to
pneumoniaOther severe and life-threatening
complications
Is it here yet?
No.
There has been no detection of the H5N1 virus found in Asia and Europe and no human
cases of avian flu in the United States to date.
So, why all of the attention and fear?
Reason #1:Overlap of bird migratory
flyways with outbreak areas
Reason #2:Influenza pandemics have happened in the
past ‘Spanish flu’, 1918-19, caused by H1N1
‘Asian flu’, 1957-58, caused by H2N2**
‘Hong Kong flu’, 1968-69, caused by H3N2**
** These were caused by new viruses, containing both human and avian genes.
Appearance of new influenza virus in humans to which the human population has little or no immunity
Ability of the virus to replicate and cause disease in large numbers
Spreads easily from person-to-person
Spread to another continent
Influenza Pandemic
The 1918 influenza virus infected ~30% of the world's population
and killed up to 40 million individuals,
particularly young people
Reason #3:Avian influenza A
(H5N1) virus new to humans
All prerequisites for a pandemic to start except human-to-human transmission
More severe and difficult to control than most avian strainsNew animals infected for first timeLittle or no immunity in humans
Ducks have virus with no symptoms, but excrete virus, so sustainable reservoirHuman cases concentrated in previously healthy children and young adults
HumanHuman
virus
Re-assortant
virusvirus
Non-Non-human
virusvirus
Reason #4:Viral gene re-assortment
Non-Non-
human
virusvirus
Will the flu shot protect from bird flu?
There is no vaccine currently to protect from bird flu.
However, flu shots will protect you from common influenza viruses
that commonly cause severe flu in people.
**Ask your doctor about if you should get a flu shot.
What about the pneumonia shot?
This is for pneumonia caused by certain bacteria, not viruses.
However, pneumonia shots will protect you from 23 of the most common types of Streptococcus
pneumonia bacteria, which cause pneumonia, blood poisoning and
meningitis.
**Ask your doctor about if you should get a pneumonia shot.
What if I had pneumonia before?
Again, this is a new virus to humans and, therefore, the
general population will have little or no immunity to it.
What should travelers do when traveling to infected countries? Know the signs and symptoms of bird flu. Get up-to-date vaccinations. Get a physical check-up at least 4 weeks prior to travel. Practice good hygiene; wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Avoid poultry farms and live animal markets. Do not feed pigeons or other birds.Wash your hands immediately after contact with birds or poultry.
Do not eat undercooked poultry. Do not eat raw eggs or dip cooked food into any sauce containing raw eggs. Listen to the news and stay informed if there is an outbreak.
After you return from your travel: Monitor your health for 10 days. If you develop flu-like symptoms within 10 days of your return, call your doctor. It is important to tell your doctor that you have recently traveled to a country with a known bird flu outbreak.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, The Center for Health and Health Care in
Schools
Public Health Resources for an Influenza
PandemicPublic Health Departments
Help educate about diseases, diagnosis and treatment
EpidemiologistsDisease surveillance (study disease, find source and characteristics) and track new cases
ScientistsIdentify agents and provide technical information
Stay informed! Visit these websites for more information about Avian Flu. Centers for Disease Control (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
CDC Notice to Travelers: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_influenza_se_asia_2005.htm
Thank you !
Questions?