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Avian Bird Flu: Frequently Asked Questions

What is avian bird flu?

Avian bird flu is an infection caused by bird influenza viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when come into contact with these secretions. ...

Can people catch avian/bird flu?

Yes. However, at this time, most people who have been infected with this type of flu had very close contact with sick birds, including working with them on farms and living with them in the same house. Currently, a person cannot catch this type of flu easily from another person. If the flu changes so people can get it easily from another person that could lead to a pandemic.

Can humans get avian bird flu?

Yes. The reports I have seen indicate that the people who have contracted avian flu have had close contact with birds. If poultry is infected, thorough cooking should kill the virus.

Are avian (bird) flu and pandemic influenza the same?

NO! There is a big difference between avian influenza and pandemic influenza. Avian influenza infects mainly birds and poultry. It can also infect people or animals who have very close contact with sick birds or poultry. But bird flu is not easily spread from person to person, so it cannot cause a pandemic. A pandemic influenza could only happen if the virus changes so that it is passed easily from one person to another person. This kind of change has not happened with the avian H5N1 flu virus. ...

Does avian bird flu have different strains ?

The avian bird flu is known to have 15 different strains. Of these, the H5N1 strain is the one that is infecting humans and causing widespread death. Variations have been found even within the H5N1 strain with slight differences being seen in different countries that became affected by the outbreak. Moreover, all of these strains were different to those seen in the past. Pakistan recently announced discovery of cases of the H-7 and H-9 in poultry, but no cases of these strains being passed to humans.

How are affected countries responding to the avian bird flu?

In South East Asian countries as well as Russia, authorities have culled millions of birds to ensure that the disease does not spread among birds or further among humans either. Experts are of the belief that people in the UK are at "very low risk" of developing the disease but the possibility can not be ruled out.

Why are people so worried about avian “bird” flu right now?

new bird influenza virus has now spread across Asia, Africa, and Europe. This “bird flu” is called Avian H5N1 influenza. Experts are worried about this virus, which has caused millions of bird and poultry deaths. It has also caused serious illness and death in people who have had very close contact with sick birds or poultry. No one knows for sure that the H5N1 virus will cause a pandemic. But experts are worried because this new bird flu virus is widespread. ...

Are there any chances of a large outbreak of avian bird flu ?

While most of the cases reported so far have shown no indication of the virus jumping quickly from one human to another, the possibility can not be ignored. Moreover, the virus is yet to combine with any known form of human flu virus. But scientists and experts fear that if a person was infected with both viruses simultaneously, the chances of the avian virus exchanging genes with the human virus were very much possible. ...

Is avian influenza (bird flu) in Australia?

There are no current reports of avian influenza (bird flu), either in birds or humans, in Australia. Avian influenza has been in Australia in the past and was successfully eradicated from poultry. The last reported case was in 1997 in Tamworth, NSW. Prior outbreaks occurred in commercial poultry farms in Victoria (1976, 1985 and 1992) and Queensland (1994).

What is avian influenza (bird flu)?

Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill
Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
Wild waterfowl are natural carriers of influenza A viruses. Usually these avian influenza ("bird flu") viruses carried by wild birds cause them little or no harm. Other birds such as domestic poultry and animals, including pigs, can also contract and transmit influenza viruses.
Avian influenza (AI) is a viral infection primarily affecting birds (chickens, ducks, geese etc., both domestic and migratory species), but also sometimes other species such as pigs and tigers. Rarely, bird flu can cause severe infections in humans. There are many different strains or varieties of AI viruses. They are a sub-group of influenza viruses, which includes the flu virus that causes seasonal outbreaks in humans around the world every year.
Source: www.ifrc.org
There are many types of influenza virus, some of which infect other animals including birds. The viruses that infect birds are avian influenza viruses. Very rarely, an avian influenza virus can also infect people. One of these viruses - H5N1- has infected some people who have caught it from having close contact with infected birds . ADVERTISEMENT Avian influenza can cause severe flu-like symptoms in people and may result in death. It has not been shown for sure that anyone has caught avian influenza from another person. ...

What would happen if there is an outbreak of SARS or Avian (Bird) Flu?

When an outbreak occurred three years ago, the team changed the itinerary to ensure safety. Specifically, the trip did not visit Hong Kong and spent more time in Beijing and Shanghai.

Will you require personnel to stay at home if they contract the Avian Bird Flu?

The Fairfax County Department of Human Resources is currently preparing the official policy regarding this question. It is certainly our desire that any employee remain at home while they are contagious or ill with an avian influenza infection. We would not expect that an employee would report to work while sick under normal conditions, and that expectation would hold particularly true during the time they are attempting to recover from an avian flu virus. ...

Is there a vaccine against avian influenza (bird flu)?

A vaccine against avian influenza is under development but there is none currently available in the United States.

Is avian influenza (bird flu) a pandemic influenza?

Avian influenza (also called bird flu) refers to the H5N1 virus. Avian influenza H5N1 is not the same as a pandemic influenza. The H5N1 strain has not yet met the third condition for creating a pandemic — it is not easily transmitted between humans. Many health officials think the H5N1 virus has the potential to become a pandemic influenza, and it is being carefully monitored. Other new, severe influenza viruses may emerge that are capable of becoming the source of the world's next pandemic influenza. ...

Is avian influenza (bird flu) in Western Australia?

There are no reports of avian influenza (bird flu) either in birds or humans in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia. Different strains of the disease have caused outbreaks in poultry flocks in Australia in the past and have been eradicated successfully. The last reported outbreak was in Tamworth, NSW in 1997. Prior outbreaks occurred in commercial poultry farms in Victoria (1976, 1985 and 1992) and in Queensland (1994).

What is avian influenza (avian flu/bird flu)?

Avian influenza, or avian flu, is a common, naturally occurring virus in birds that has many forms or subtypes. Scientists believe all birds are susceptible to infection by some form of avian flu, but some birds, like waterfowl, can be infected with the virus but develop no signs of illness. In addition, the potency (virulence) varies greatly among the various subtypes of the avian flu virus. Virulence is classified as either low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). ...
Source: www.ducks.ca

What is avian influenza (bird ‘flu or poultry flu)?

There are at least 144 strains of avian influenza, many of which circulate in wild birds at low levels, but which can occur more frequently in waterbirds. Most have mild effects on poultry and are designated ‘Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza‘ (LPAI). But the H5 and H7 ’subtypes’ can cause massive mortality in poultry and are designated ’High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza‘ (HPAI). These HPAI viruses do not normally occur in wild birds. ...

Can avian influenza or bird flu be transmitted to people?

Transmission of the virus from birds to humans is possible, but very difficult. The virus is transmitted by saliva, nasal secretions, and excrement of infected birds, ad therefore one would have to come into contact with such substances to be infected by the virus. The virus dies at temperatures above 70 °C, and therefore it is advisable to cook chicken and eggs uniformly at 70°C to eliminate any risk of contagion.

Do we have avian influenza and "bird flu" viruses in Georgia?

Avian influenza viruses have occasionally been isolated from wild birds in Georgia, but we have not had any recent outbreaks in domestic poultry. Furthermore, Georgia does not have live bird markets like those associated with outbreaks in other countries.

Am I at risk of contracting avian (bird) flu?

Current flu vaccinations will not protect you against disease caused by the H5N1 strain although various worldwide organisations are working together towards producing an effective vaccine. It is important that you take precautions to protect yourself and others from all types of respiratory disease. ...

Should I begin taking antiviral medications such as Tamiflu® if I'm planning a visit to another country known to have avian or bird flu?

No, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically states at this time persons traveling to countries with avian influenza cases in birds, poultry, or humans do not need to take Tamiflu ® prophylactically. If you become ill in any way while in the country, you should seek medical advice immediately. ...

Will your Calutech units kill the Avian bird Flu virus that everyone is talking about?

Right now, the virus is only spread through surface contact, not by air. If and when it does start to spread by air, ALL of our units will kill the virus. We have confirmed that it takes 3,400 microwatts of UV to kill this virus. The Blue produces 24,000 , the Mini produces 12,000 , the Blueray produces 40,000 , and the Airtronics produces 11,000 microwatts. It will be an easy kill for our units!

If Avian Influenza is a bird flu, what’s the big deal about it?

Scientists are worried because viruses mutate a lot. The more they mutate, the more they are different from the virus strain we saw the year before. That means we will have less immunity to it. Flu viruses like to swap their genes with other flu viruses. So far very few people have gotten bird flu from another person. ...

How is pandemic influenza different to seasonal influenza (“normal flu”) and avian influenza (“bird flu”)?

Seasonal Flu Pandemic Flu Occurs every year during the winter season Has occurred three times in the last century. It is likely to occur at any time of the year. For most people it is an unpleasant but not life threatening infection. It may be serious infection for everyone. Most people recover within one or two weeks without requiring medical treatment. Some people will not recover even with medical treatment. Due to the higher risk of severe illness, there is greater risk of death. ...

What’s the big deal about Avian Influenza (“Bird Flu”)?

The big news is about a strain of bird flu called H5N1. It is causing a “pan-zootic” – a serious global outbreak of flu in birds, but not in humans. Bird flu is a disease caused by a virus that can infect wild and domestic birds. There are many types of bird flu and each year there is a bird flu season just as there is a human flu season. Most strains of bird flu cannot infect humans; it is now believed that a changed bird flu virus caused the 1918 influenza pandemic.

Will the product still be effective against Avian Bird Flu if the virus mutates and combines with the human flu virus?

Activ8 has proved effective against every bacteria, virus and fungi we have tested. Our rigorous scientific trials show that Activ8 is able to crack the membrane of the human and bird flu viruses so we can be extremely confident that Activ8 would be effective if these circumstances arise.
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