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Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have avian influenza viruses and "bird flu" in the United States?

Bird Flu -- Frequently Asked Questions - ADHS
Yes, avian influenza viruses are found in wild bird populations in North America and occasionally infect domestic poultry. For example, in 2004 outbreaks of avian influenza in U.S. poultry occurred in the New England states and Texas, and were traced to birds from live bird markets. These outbreaks were not caused by the same "bird flu" virus (H5N1) that is currently circulating in Asia. The U.S. outbreaks were quickly contained and there was no impact on human health.
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Is there avian (bird) flu in the United States ?

PHILA.GOV | Philadelphia Emergency Preparedness and Response
No. Public health departments and the US Department of Agriculture are monitoring the situation in the United States , in humans and birds, as well as other animals. To date, avian (bird) flu has not been found in the United States.
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What is avian influenza (avian flu/bird flu)?

Bird Flu: Frequently Asked Questions
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. 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.
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What is avian influenza or "bird flu"?

FAQ's - AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) AND AVIAN INFLUENZA A H5N...
Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. All birds appear to be susceptible, though some species are more resistant to infection than others.
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What is the bird flu (avian influenza)?

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) - The Ohio State University
The bird flu (also referred to as avian flu) refers to strains of the influenza virus that infect birds. Avian flu occurs worldwide and was first identified over 100 years ago. Normally avian flu viruses don't infect species other than birds and pigs. In 1997, however, the first documented human case of avian flu occurred in Hong Kong.
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Avian Bird Flu FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Avian Influenza is a virus that normally only infects birds, most notably ducks and chickens. There are numerous strains of the virus in which an infected bird may show few symptoms to others where the virus will rapidly overwhelm a birds immune system and prove fatal in the majority of cases due to acute respiratory failure. Once a single bird has become infected with a highly pathogenic strain of the influenza virus it can quickly spread to a whole flock with typically dire consequences.
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What is the risk to people in the United States from the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Asia and Europe?

Avian Flu Frequently Asked Questions
The current risk to Americans from the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Asia is low. The strain of H5N1 virus found in Asia and Europe has not been found in the United States. There have been no human cases of H5N1 flu in the United States. It is possible that travelers returning from affected countries in Asia could be infected if they were exposed to the virus. Since February 2004, medical and public health personnel have been watching closely to find any such cases.
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If bird flu shows up in the United States, will it be safe to eat poultry (chicken, duck, turkey)?

Pandemic Flu Frequently Asked Questions - Fairfax County, Vi...
Yes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no evidence that anyone has been infected with H5N1 influenza or other bird flu viruses by eating properly cooked poultry or poultry products (e.g., eggs) derived from infected birds. Cooking food thoroughly will kill bird flu virus and other infectious agents if they are present. No. Although fleas can transmit some diseases, such as bubonic plague, they are not part of the lifecycle of influenza viruses.
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Is the highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5Nl bird flu present in the United States?

FAQ Bird Flu
No, this type of bird flu has not been found in the United States. Other strains of bird flu are commonly found in wild waterfowl in the United States, but usually affect small numbers of birds and generally do not cause obvious illness. These other types of bird flu are not considered a human health risk. The H5NI bird flu is now circulating in Asia, Europe and Africa.
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Is bird flu (or avian flu) the same thing as pandemic flu?

City of Austin - Pandemic Influenza Planning
No. Pandemic flu is a global outbreak of human disease. It is caused by a new influenza virus that is unlike any previous flu, so people will not have any natural immunity to it. The lack of immunity means that a pandemic flu can pass readily from person to person, creating widespread illness. Currently, there is no pandemic flu circulating.
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Are avian (bird) flu and pandemic influenza the same?

Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu Response
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.
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Are there any cases of Americans being infected by the Avian Flu (H5N1) in the United States?

Pandemic Influenza :: Union Hospital Health Group :: Your Pa...
Currently, there have been no human cases of Avian Influenza in the United States. There has also been no evidence of Americans becoming infected while traveling abroad. Medical and public health personnel have been watching closely to any evidence of human cases in the United States.
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WHAT IS THE RISK TO PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES FROM THE H5N1 BIRD FLU OUTBREAK IN ASIA?

Winnebago County Health Department - FAQ's
The current risk to Americans from the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Asia is low. The strain of H5N1 virus found in Asia has not been found in the United States. There have been no human cases of H5N1 flu in the United States. It is possible that travelers returning from affected countries in Asia could be infected. Since February 2004, medical and public health personnel have been watching closely to find any such cases.
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What is the current risk of bird flu (H5N1) in the United States?

Clackamas County: Pandemic Flu
The current risk for people in the United States from avian flu is low. The risk is low because of two factors. First, we do not have any birds that we know of in the United States at this time with the H5N1 flu strain. Second, because H5N1 is almost never transmitted from human to human at this time, it is not able to spread to large numbers of people. top
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Will you require personnel to stay at home if they contract the Avian Bird Flu?

Pandemic Flu Frequently Asked Questions - Fairfax County, Vi...
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.
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Should we worry about avian (bird) flu, is it dangerous to humans and can we control it?

Surrey Alert Public Info -
Currently, the government is monitoring the situation. A number of control measures will be immediately implemented in the event of the disease being suspected in flocks of poultry or tamed birds. Detailed information and advice can be found on the Surrey County Council Trading Standards web pages and on the following websites: Department of Health, Health Protection Agency, DEFRA, NHS Direct and the National Farmers Union (NFU)
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Pandemic flu - frequently asked questions : Department of He...
Avian influenza (bird flu) is caused by a virus that usually infects birds (particularly poultry) but occasionally crosses the species barrier and infects humans. Experts are particularly concerned about the H5N1 strain of avian influenza which has caused disease and death in birds and has demonstrated the ability to cross the species barrier and cause disease and death in humans.
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Winnebago County Health Department - FAQ's
Bird 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, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
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Avian influenza is the occurrence of flu in bird. Therefore it is also called bird flu. This is caused by influenza virus in birds and is currently occurring in an epidemic form in many countries of Asia. The disease in domesticated or wild birds may occur in a mild form or a severe form. When severe it kills nearly all the affected birds. The current epidemic of bird flu is causing deaths in a large number of birds in the affected countries.
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What is avian influenza (AI)/Bird flu and which birds does it affect?

Frequently Asked Questions
Avian 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.
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How do humans get avian (bird) flu?

PHILA.GOV | Philadelphia Emergency Preparedness and Response
Humans can get avian flu from direct contact with infected birds or objects contaminated by the infected bird's feces (droppings). The most likely way to catch the avian flu is during killing, defeathering, and preparing infected poultry for cooking.
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What is the treatment for avian (bird) flu?

PHILA.GOV | Philadelphia Emergency Preparedness and Response
Treatment varies based on symptoms. Treatment may include supportive care, hospital care, and/or the use of an anti-viral drug. Is there a vaccine that can protect me from avian (bird) flu? There is currently no vaccine that protects against avian flu, but efforts to make a vaccine are in progress.
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I have a dead bird in my yard. Can I have it tested for the H5N1 avian flu?

Bird Flu -- Frequently Asked Questions - ADHS
State and federal departments of agriculture are routinely testing chickens for evidence of infection with the H5N1 avian flu and other poultry diseases. State and federal wildlife officials are testing wild waterfowl, such as wild ducks and geese, and shorebirds, such as plovers and sandpipers, for the Asian bird flu in only select areas of the state. Wildlife officials are NOT accepting backyard dead wild birds for testing for bird flu virus.
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What do I need to do to bring my pet bird into the United States?

Frequently Asked Questions about Animal Importation | CDC DG...
Currently, CDC restricts birds from countries where highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is present in poultry, in order to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) implements regulations regarding the importation of birds. To import a pet bird of non-U.S.
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What about avian flu?

Frequently Asked Questions
Avian flu or “bird flu” normally infects birds, although these bird strains can sometimes infect small numbers of humans who come in close contact with them. Sometimes – not always – these bird strains can become more easily transmitted to people. If that happens, and the strain changes enough to become easily transmissible between people, it can result in a pandemic – a global circulation of a strain that really hasn’t been seen in people before.
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Avian Flu: Frequently Asked Questions - RADIO FREE EUROPE / ...
Also known as bird flu, it is an infectious disease in birds caused by several strains of the influenza virus. It was identified in Italy in 1878. All bird species are at risk, although some are more liable to infection than others. The natural host for the virus is migratory waterfowl, such as wild ducks, which have a high resistance to infection. Domestic poultry are particularly susceptible.
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