Avian influenza (Bird Flu) Fact Sheet
What is Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)?
- Avian influenza or bird flu is a disease caused by a virus (small infectious agent) that occurs naturally among birds, and that sometimes
infects pigs.
- The virus spreads easily, and poultry, like chicken, ducks and turkeys, if infected, can get very sick and can die rapidly.
- Sometimes this virus can also infect humans.
What is the current situation of the bird flu?
- The current outbreak of this disease is the largest and most severe so far
- Many countries in Asia, Europe and Africa have been affected at the same time.
- Millions of birds have been lost.
- About one hundred people have already died from the disease.
How is the virus spread in birds?
- The flu virus is shed in droppings and secretions from the eyes, mouth and nose of infected birds.
- Healthy birds become infected through contact with infected droppings or secretions
- Through contact with surfaces and dirt contaminated with excretions or secretions.
- Through direct contact with sick birds or materials such as water or feed contaminated with the virus.
- Through manure, equipment, vehicles and crates.
- Through people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact with the virus.
What are the signs and symptoms of birds
- Birds appear tired and refuse to eat
- Discharge from the nose, eyes and mouth
- Swelling of head, eyes, legs, combs and wattles
- Coughing, sneezing and diarrhoea
- Sudden death
NOTE that ducks may have the virus without showing signs of sickness.
How is the virus spread to humans?
- Through direct contact with infected poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys)
- Through surfaces contaminated with secretions and droppings from infected birds
Who are the people most at risk?
- Poultry farmers and those who work on poultry farms<
- Children, because they like to play with birds and animals. Children are
not always careful about what they touch, nor are they always conscious
about hygiene.
- People who keep domestic birds such as chicken, ducks or geese
- Hunters and fishermen
Many families in Africa keep domestic chickens and other birds. Many people
also buy live chickens from the market. Potentially, therefore, everyone is
at risk. People must observe good hygiene practices like always washing
hands with soap and water after touching birds.
What are the signs and symptoms of bird flu in humans?
- Fever, cough, sore throat and muscle pains
- Eye infections and pneumonia,
- Severe breathing problems and other life-threatening diseases.
Fever, cough, sore throat and muscle pains are common symptoms of other
infections, so confirmation must be sought from the local health facility.
How should poultry be protect during outbreaks?
- Keep chicken separated from ducks and other birds that run around free
- Keep poultry in a closed place, away from wild birds and other animals
- Keep poultry away from water that may have been contaminated by wild birds
- Clean compound/homestead and coops daily to remove droppings and uneaten feed
- Burn or bury feathers and other bird waste far away from the farmyard
- Avoid bringing chicks, ducklings and piglets from one yard/compound/homestead to another.
- Be careful when buying poultry because some people may sell sick birds in order not to lose money.
- Avoid hunting wild birds in an area where outbreak has been confirmed as wild birds may carry the virus
What should be done with a sick of dead bird?
- Avoid touching birds that appear sick or that are dead
- Report any sick or dead bird to the relevant local authority
- Sick or dead birds must not be left lying in the yard/compound/homestead
- Dead birds must not be thrown into rivers, ponds or other waterway
- Infected birds must be placed in plastic bags and taken away for examination
How should people protect themselves during outbreaks?
- Always wash hands with soap and water or ash before and after handling food
- Avoid close contact with birds
- Poultry must not be brought indoors
- If birds must be kept indoors, keep them away from where the family eats and sleeps
- Keep children away from poultry and all birds, and from collecting eggs
- Children must be told to always wash their hands before eating.
- Children must report all sick or dead birds seen to adults immediately
- Avoid contact with pet birds unless they are always kept indoors
- Wash or disinfect shoes, clothes and the wheels of bicycles after visiting
farms or poultry markets, especially before going indoors
- If a person feels sick after touching sick or dead birds, contact the
nearest health post immediately
- If it is suspected that someone in the family may have contacted the
disease, the person must be taken to the nearest health post.
- If the Bird Flu is confirmed or suspected in the area, avoid going to
gatherings as people may spread the disease even before they feel sick
Should people stop eating poultry?
No, but avoid eating sick or dead birds. Always observe the following:
- Avoid eating poultry meat or eggs that are not properly cooked.
- Avoid eating raw blood
- Cook all poultry meat (there should be no pink parts) and eggs thoroughly
at high temperature - thorough cooking kills the virus
- Eggs can contain the virus on the shell and on the inside, so wash hands
with soap and water after touching eggs.
- Avoid using raw eggs in foods that will not be cooked.
- Wash hands with soap and water after killing, plucking or handling poultry.
- Wash, with soap and water or disinfectant, all knives, plates, bowls, pots
and pans that have been used for raw poultry
- Avoid mixing raw meats, poultry, fish and their juices with other foods
Note that the bird flu virus is not killed by freezing or refrigeration.
Is there any treatment for bird flu?
- Yes, there are some antiviral drugs available.
- The danger, however, is that flu viruses can become resistant to drugs.
Are there any vaccines for humans?
- At present there is no vaccine but trials are underway to test potential vaccines.
- It may, however, take a long time before a vaccine is available.
Why is it important to contain the bird flu?
- When the virus passes from birds to humans, this results in very severe illness that may lead to death.
- In the present outbreak, more than half of the people infected have died.
- Most of the deaths have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults.
- There is a greater risk that if proper care is not taken, the virus can change into a form that is highly infectious for humans.
- It can then spread easily from human to human.
- This can lead to a global outbreak.
Adapted from the World Health Organization website (
www.who.int )
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