Bird Flu: Frequently Asked Questions
IS THERE A VACCINE FOR BIRD FLU?
There is no commercial vaccine currently available, but clinical trials for a vaccine against the H5N1 virus are underway.
Source: www.case.edu
Presently, there is no widespread, effective vaccine for bird flu, but pharmaceutical companies are working to create one. There are antiviral medications like Oseltamavir (brand name Tamiflu), but they are only effective after exposure to H5N1 or when exposure is imminent. Taking such medication ahead of time is ineffective and personal stockpiling is not recommended. ...
Source: birdflu.msu.edu
What causes bird flu?
Bird flu is caused by 15 subtypes of influenza A virus subtype of avian influenza. Viruses of low pathogenicity can, after circulation for sometimes short periods in a poultry population, mutate into highly pathogenic viruses. To date, all outbreaks of the highly pathogenic form have been caused by influenza A/H5N1 virus, the only subtype that cause severe outbreaks in humans.
Source: www.mbc.com.ph
Bird flu is caused by influenza virus type A. There are 15 different subtypes of the virus though bird flu is caused by subtypes H5 or H7. These sub types cause a severe disease in birds especially chicken and turkeys. Occasionally the infection jumps from infected birds or their infected material (bird droppings) to human beings. Even though there are large epidemics of the disease in birds, there are very few human beings in some countries who have suffered from the infection.
Source: www.newindpress.com
Bird flu is caused by different subtypes of influenza A virus affecting chickens, ducks and other birds. Viruses which cause mild disease can mutate into viruses that can cause serious disease (highly pathogenic). To date, all outbreaks of the highly pathogenic form have been caused by Influenza A /H5N1 virus, the only subtype that cause severe disease in humans.
Source: www.king5.com
What is the treatment of bird flu?
One should not wait for the laboratory diagnosis of H5N1, infection before treatment is started. Treatment for HSN, infection is essentially the same as for other influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs, some of which can be used for both treatment and prevention, are clinically effective against influenza A virus strains in otherwise healthy adults and children, but have some limitations. Some of these drugs are also expensive and supplies are limited.
Source: www.mbc.com.ph
It's essentially the same as for other influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs, some of which can be used for both treatment and prevention, are clinically effective against influenza A virus strains in otherwise healthy adults and children, but have some limitations. Some of these drugs are also expensive and supplies are limited.
Source: www.king5.com
What are the symptoms of bird flu?
Symptoms of bird flu in humans consist of normal flu-like symptoms of coughing, sore throat, muscle-ache and fever. Eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and other severe life-threatening complications can also accompany the disease.
Source: www.osu.edu
Symptoms of various bird flu viruses in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches to eye infections, pneumonia, and severe respiratory diseases, such as acute respiratory distress and other life-threatening complications.
Source: www.ci.pasadena.ca.us
The reported symptoms of Bird Flu have ranged from typical human flu symptoms Fever (Sudden and high - greater than 100 F. )
Cough
Sore throat
Muscle aches More serious, life threatening symptoms: Eye infections
Pneumonia
Acute respiratory distress
Source: www.publichealthathens.com
Early signs of bird flu are often similar to seasonal human influenza (cough, sore throat, high fever, headache, muscle ache, etc). The disease can progress into pneumonia where there might be shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and respiratory failure.
Source: www.who.or.id
How is the bird flu transmitted?
Transmission can occur from infected poultry, primarily chickens and ducks, or their feces to humans and other poultry. There is no evidence that eating properly cooked poultry or eggs can cause infection. Your risk of contracting avian flu depends on your proximity to infected poultry; there is currently minimal risk for members of the Ohio State community.
Source: www.osu.edu
Is bird flu in Australia?
There are no current reports of bird flu (avian influenza H5N1), either in birds or humans, in Australia. The H7 subtype of 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. Other outbreaks occurred in commercial poultry farms in Victoria (1976, 1985 and 1992) and Queensland (1994).
Source: www.flupandemic.gov.au
How serious is bird flu?
For birds, it is quite serious, as infection often leads to death. So far, the disease does not appear to infect people easily. Most of the human cases of bird flu have occurred in individuals who have regular contact with poultry. As of February 2009 , the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 407 human cases . The current fatality rate exceeds 60 percent. ...
Source: pandemicflu.msu.edu
For birds, it is quite serious, as infection often leads to death. So far, the disease does not appear to infect people easily. Most of the human cases of bird flu have occurred in individuals who have regular contact with poultry. As of January 2009 , the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 397 human cases . The current fatality rate exceeds 60 percent. ...
Source: birdflu.msu.edu
How is bird flu treated?
Studies done in laboratories suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses should work in preventing bird flu infection in humans. However, flu viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work. Additional studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of these medicines. There currently is no available vaccine to protect humans against the bird flu virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place. ...
Source: www.ci.pasadena.ca.us
What is bird flu?
Bird – or avian – flu is caused by a virus that usually infects birds (particularly poultry) but occasionally crosses the species barrier and infects humans – recently predominantly in the Far East, although it also happens elsewhere.
Source: www.survivetheflu.com
Bird flu or avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds ranging from mild to severe form of illness. All birds are thought to be susceptible to bird flu, though some species are more resistant to infection than others. Some forms of bird flu can cause illness to humans.
Source: www.king5.com
It is an infection among birds that is transmitted through saliva, nasal secretions and feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What makes the particular strain of bird flu H5N1 so worrisome is that it can now also infect people. In 1997, the first case of bird-to-human transmission was recorded in Hong Kong, according to the C.D.C. So far, this strain of flu has not had any sustained human-to-human transmission. ...
Source: www.nytimes.com
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is caused by a virus that has a number of different strains. The most virulent are H5 and H7, which are normally fatal in birds. The type identified at the Suffolk farm is the highly pathogenic Asian strain of the H5N1 virus. It is not transmitted through the air, like the common cold virus, but only through direct contact with faeces or other bodily fluids from infected birds.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Is there a cure for the bird flu?
Besides intensive medical attention, Oseltamivir (registered as Tamiflu) is the main anti-viral treatment for bird flu. It is most effective when administered early in the disease. Tamiflu in Indonesia is available at all Avian Influenza Referral Hospital. (see AI Hospital Referral list)
Source: www.who.or.id
Where are the bird flu outbreaks?
Human infections are reported this year in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the disease control agency. As of Oct. 24, bird flu outbreaks linked to H5N1 had been recorded in poultry and other fowl in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Romania, among other countries.
Source: www.nytimes.com
Is bird flu a problem?
China Insight will follow the advice of DFAT concerning this issue. Question: Will my mobile phone operate in China Answer: Contact your service provider for instructions.
Source: www.chinainsightstudy.com
Is there a flu shot for bird flu?
Not yet. A vaccine for this type of bird flu is being developed, but is not available for you to get at this time. Once it is available, it is expected to be in short supply for several months. It takes several months to make flu vaccines for each type of flu.
Source: www.getreadyforflu.org
Is ‘bird flu’ or ‘pandemic flu’ in Australia?
There are no current reports of bird flu in animals or humans in Australia. A truly pandemic virus has not emerged yet, so is not present anywhere in the world.
Source: www.health.gov.au
Is there a vaccine for bird flu or another pandemic flu?
There currently is no vaccine to protect humans against a pandemic influenza virus because the pandemic virus has not yet fully developed. Vaccine production is a complicated and lengthy process. Because viruses change over time, a specific pandemic influenza vaccine cannot be produced until a pandemic influenza virus emerges in humans. It will likely take four to six months to develop, test and begin producing a vaccine. ...
Source: www.ci.austin.tx.us
What is the difference between bird flu and ‘normal flu’?
The normal respiratory illness that causes outbreaks each winter, ‘flu’, is caused by an influenza A virus. This human virus is from the same family as the ‘bird flu’ virus. It is different from bird flu in that it commonly causes human disease and can be transmitted between infected people. In healthy people the normal human influenza usually causes a mild illness that does not require medical treatment. ...
Source: www.health.gov.au
How is bird flu related to human flu?
Avian influenza (bird flu) refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily affect birds. Influenza can be divided into three groups (Types A, B, and C). Type A virus causes infection in birds (referred to as avian influenza or “bird flu”), humans, and some mammals, such as pigs; Type B is found exclusively in people; and Type C occurs in humans and pigs. An influenza pandemic happens when a new subtype of influenza virus emerges that has not been found in humans previously. ...
Source: www.iowadnr.gov
Does the flu shot work against the bird flu?
The current flu vaccine will not protect you against infection with the avian influenza virus. However, current vaccines protect against circulating human strains, reducing the risk that a person who is being exposed to avian influenza will become infected with both the avian and human viruses at the same time. This will decrease opportunities for the avian influenza virus to acquire human influenza genes and create a new virus subtype against which people have no natural immunity.
Source: www.ottawahospital.on.ca
How does bird flu become a human flu?
Bird flu could become a human flu in two ways. If a person were infected with a human flu and the bird flu at the same time, the two viruses could swap genes --
reassort -- and a human version of bird flu could emerge. This is what happened in the last two flu pandemics in 1957 and 1968. Bird flu could also evolve and change into a form that is adapted to humans, as happened in the 1918 flu pandemic. There is evidence the H5N1 bird flu virus has begun this process, but scientists say it is not yet very far along.
Source: www.publichealthathens.com
