How does avian influenza affect people?
Frequently Asked Questions — Pandemic Influenza —...Until recently, it was thought that avian influenza only rarely affected people and caused only mild disease. Since 1997, however, more severe illness has occurred in people infected with avian influenza strains, and one strain of bird flu—H5N1—has been associated with a very high death rate when people have been affected.
Related QuestionsWhat is avian influenza (AI)/Bird flu and which birds does it affect?
Frequently Asked QuestionsAvian influenza is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including commercial, wild and pet birds. It may also affect people and other animals in certain circumstances. A Type A influenza virus causes it.
Related QuestionsCan people become infected with avian influenza?
Although it is possible for people to become infected with avian influenza, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the virus does not spread easily from animals to humans. There have been confirmed cases of human infection in Asia, but those occurred in association with virus outbreaks in poultry, usually among people who live and work in close quarters with the animals.
Related QuestionsWhat is Avian Influenza?
Avian influenza : Frequently Asked QuestionsAvian influenza, or "bird flu" or "avian flu" is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) 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, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens and ducks, very sick and kill them.
Related QuestionsAvian influenza (such as H5N1, H9N2) is a type of influenza A. It was known previously to infect birds only, but 18 human cases caused by the H5N1 strain were documented in Hong Kong in 1997 and another two were documented in 2003.Related Questions
USGS National Wildlife Health Center - Avian Influenza - Fre...Bird flu, the popular name for avian influenza (AI), is a disease primarily found in poultry and wild birds. Avian influenza can infect chickens, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, as well as migratory waterfowl and shorebirds and, less commonly, mammals (pigs, horses, cats, and marine mammals). The virus can be spread through contact with fecal droppings, saliva, and nasal discharges of infected animals.Related Questions
Avian influenza - commonly called "bird flu" - is an infection caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally in birds. Wild birds can carry the viruses, but usually do not get sick from them, but some domesticated birds, such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys, can become infected, often fatally. One strain of avian influenza, H5N1, is endemic in much of Asia and has recently spread into Europe. Avian H5N1 infections have killed poultry and other birds in a number of countries.Related Questions
Bird Flu FAQ Bird FluAvian influenza, or ???bird flu???, is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. Avian influenza viruses are highly species-specific, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans. In domestic poultry, infection with avian influenza viruses causes two main forms of disease, distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence.Related Questions
San Diego Zoo: Avian Flu - FAQsAvian influenza, commonly called “bird flu,” is an infection caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally in birds. Wild birds can carry the viruses, but usually do not get sick from them, but some domesticated birds, such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys, can become infected, often fatally. One strain of avian influenza, H5N1, is endemic in much of Asia and has recently spread into Europe. Avian H5N1 infections have killed poultry and other birds in a number of countries.Related Questions
What kinds of birds does avian influenza infect?
Bird Flu -- Frequently Asked Questions - ADHSNaturally occurring avian influenza viruses in wild birds are generally associated with waterfowl (ducks and geese), gulls, and some species of shore birds and typically do not cause illness in these birds. The viruses can occasionally be transmitted from these wild birds to domestic birds such as chickens, quail and turkeys. In some cases these viruses can cause severe disease in domestic birds.
Related QuestionsHow does avian influenza spread among birds?
Bird Flu -- Frequently Asked Questions - ADHSInfected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with excretions or secretions.
Related QuestionsCan avian influenza affect the safety of the food we eat?
Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Animal Health - Avian Infl...There is no evidence to suggest that the consumption of properly cooked poultry or eggs could transmit avian flu to humans. All evidence to date indicates that thorough cooking will kill the virus.
Related QuestionsHow do people become infected with avian influenza viruses?
Epidemiology & Disease Prevention - Cerro Gordo County D...Most cases of H5N1 avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces possibly contaminated from feces of infected birds. For a pandemic of influenza to occur, avian influenza must mutate/change to be able to be passed easily from person to person.
Related QuestionsAre people at risk from Avian Influenza?
LothianAndBordersAlert Public InfoYou can get more information about the risks to people from Avian Flu on the from the Health Protection Agency
Related QuestionsCan avian influenza infect people?
Frequently asked questions about Avian Influenza or Bird fluAnswer: It is currently very difficult for the H5N1 virus to be transmitted from birds to humans (it requires very close contact with sick or dead birds) but in those cases where it has been transmitted, it has caused severe illness and the death rate has been high.
Related QuestionsWhat are the symptoms of avian influenza in people?
Frequently asked questions about Avian Influenza or Bird fluAnswer: The symptoms are similar to that of other forms of influenza, including fever, sore throat, cough, headache and muscle aches & pains.
Related QuestionsIs avian influenza found in people?
UC Davis News & Information :: Frequently asked question...One particularly serious strain of avian influenza currently circulating in Asia, named H5N1, was first diagnosed in a person in Hong Kong 1997, and 193 people in Azerbaizan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam are known to have died from it since late 2003. Influenza researchers note that most of the people who got infected, with a few possible exceptions, were infected by domestic poultry.
Related QuestionsWhat are the symptoms of avian influenza?
The initial symptoms of avian influenza are similar to those of other influenza viruses, including fever, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, cough and sore throat. However, it is more likely to result in high fever, chest infection, respiratory failure, multi-organ failure, and death.
Related QuestionsHow is avian influenza transmitted?
Avian influenza is transmitted from infected live birds to humans. Human-to-human transmission is inefficient. Outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry have recently been reported in some Asian and European countries, and some cases of human infection have been reported. Hong Kong has an effective surveillance system for influenza in birds and humans. The Department of Health has been closely monitoring the situation and has adopted appropriate preventive measures to guard against the disease.
Related QuestionsShould hunters be concerned about avian influenza?
USGS National Wildlife Health Center - Avian Influenza - Fre...While currently there are unconfirmed reports of people being infected with H5N1 from dead wild birds, exposure to domestic and wild birds potentially infected with H5N1 should be avoided. There is currently no indication that waterfowl or other wild birds hunted in the United States carry HPAI H5N1. While experts believe the risk to hunters is currently low, scientists cannot guarantee that there is no risk. It is always wise to practice good hygiene when handling or cleaning any wild game.
Related QuestionsWhat is an avian influenza A (H5N1) virus?
Avian Flu Frequently Asked QuestionsInfluenza A (H5N1) virus – also called “H5N1 virus” – is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds. It was first isolated from birds (terns) in South Africa in 1961. Like all bird flu viruses, H5N1 virus circulates among birds worldwide, is very contagious among birds, and can be deadly.
Related QuestionsCanadian Food Inspection Agency - Animal Health - Avian Infl...Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious viral infection caused by the influenza virus type "A", which can affect several species of poultry (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds.Related Questions
Are there other resources for information on avian influenza?
http://www.pandemicflu.gov - Pandemicflu.gov is the official U.S. government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza.
Related QuestionsCanadian Food Inspection Agency - Animal Health - Fact Sheet...Avian influenza (AI) is 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. Avian influenza viruses can be classified into two categories: low pathogenic (LPAI) and high pathogenic (HPAI) forms based on the severity of the illness caused in chickens. Most AI viruses are low pathogenic and typically cause little or no clinical signs in infected birds.Related Questions
Is it true that cats can get avian influenza?
Avian influenza - Frequently asked questionsAlthough cats are not usually susceptible to influenza type A infections, results of a research study published in September 20041 demonstrated that domestic cats can become infected with the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus and are capable of transmitting the virus to other cats. In February 2006, authorities in Germany reported that a domestic cat had died from H5N1 HPAI infection.
Related QuestionsCan dogs become infected with avian influenza?
Avian influenza - Frequently asked questionsLike cats, dogs are not usually susceptible to avian influenza (AI) viruses; however, an unpublished study carried out in 2005 by the National Institute of Animal Health in Bangkok indicated that dogs could be infected with the virus. No clinical disease was detected in association with that infection. This limited information is insufficient to determine how susceptible dogs are to the virus.
Related QuestionsAvian Influenza Frequently Asked QuestionsAvian Influenza is a virus that usually affects birds but can infect and cause serious disease among poultry, such as chickens. It is very contagious among birds and can be deadly.Related Questions
