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.

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.

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.

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.

present, the H5N1 avian flu is not known to be here in the United States. Those with pet birds, such as parrots, cockatiels, love birds or budgies should not worry about their pets getting "bird flu" if they have not been out of the country or in contact with birds from other countries. In order to protect your pet birds from other avian diseases, keep your birds isolated from wild birds. Isolation of newly acquired or ill birds from others for 30 days is recommended.

Avian flu is not easily transmitted to humans. In areas that have had human cases of H5N1, chickens commonly roam free and potentially contaminating the environment. In addition, because families often depend upon these birds for income and sustenance, they often butcher sick birds and consume them. Hand butchering sick birds exposes people to high levels of the virus.

If you are sick, consult your doctor. Testing is available for flu viruses which typically occur during the cold and flu season. this time, testing for the H5N1 avian flu would not be appropriate- except in cases where the patient had traveled to a H5N1 avian flu-affected area of the world, and/or had close exposure to H5N1 infected birds or persons. ALWAYS cook poultry thoroughly and wash your hands and any surfaces that have come into contact with raw poultry.

To date, the U.S. State Department, CDC and WHO have not issued any travel alerts or warnings for avian flu-infected areas. However, the CDC advises travelers to countries in Asia with documented H5N1 outbreaks to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces or fluids from poultry or other animals.

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

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.

The high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain is a particularly virulent strain of avian flu that was first detected in Southeast Asia in 1997.

To date, transmission from domestic poultry, through contact with infected birds, contaminated surfaces or feces, is the most prevalent way this H5N1 strain of avian flu virus has caused human infection. One single incident of wild bird to human transmission has been recorded as described above.

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.

To date, the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus has resulted in the deaths of millions of domestic birds. Despite the millions of people who have had close contact with domestic fowl during the past 10 years in Asia, just over 325 people have been infected worldwide. This is an extremely low rate of infection. However, human health officials are concerned with the greater than 50 percent mortality rate of people that have been infected.

To date, the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu has not been detected in North America. An extensive government surveillance system has been established to detect its arrival should it occur. The World Organization for Animal Health and The World Health Organization maintain web pages devoted to reporting all laboratory confirmed cases of the H5 strains of avian flu in animals and humans based on location.

No poultry or poultry products from countries affected with the H5N1 avian flu are legally allowed to enter the United States.

If there are sudden changes to the body with human-like influenza symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, pneumonia, muscle aches, eye infections, and severe respiratory diseases, be prepared to have a check-up with a healthcare provider. Personal hygiene must be watched carefully with touching other persons and surfaces.

All of the cases of bird flu infection in domestic cats reported to date have been associated with outbreaks among domestic poultry or wild birds and are thought to have occurred by the cat eating raw infected birds.

the present time, the risk of becoming infected with H5N1 virus from bird feeders is low. Generally, perching birds (Passeriformes) are the predominate type of birds at feeders. While there are documented cases of H5N1 causing death in some Passeriformes (e.g., house sparrow, Eurasian tree-sparrow, house finch), most of the wild birds that are traditionally associated with avian influenza viruses are waterfowl and shore birds.

In addition to humans and birds, we know that pigs, a tiger, leopards, ferrets, and domestic cats can be infected with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses. In addition, in early March 2006, Germany reported H5N1 infection in a stone marten (a weasel-like mammal). The avian influenza A (H5N1) virus that emerged in Asia in 2003 is evolving and it's possible that other mammals may be susceptible to infection as well.

There is not enough information available about avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in dogs to know how infection would occur. Affected domestic cats in Europe appear to have become infected by feeding upon raw infected poultry or wild birds. If dogs are susceptible to avian influenza A (H5N1), infection may be by the same route.

The Asian H5N1 is a severe form of avian influenza that has been reported in birds (mostly in poultry) in parts of Asia and Europe.

Wild bird monitoring: The U.S. government, working with the state and regional Flyway Councils, has an extensive program of monitoring migratory wild birds to spot Asian bird flu before it reaches commercial flocks. Thousands of samples are being taken in Alaska, where it is believed that migratory North American birds may commingle with birds that spend their winters in Asia.

Flu viruses are named according to two different proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Hemagglutinin helps the virus stick to cells and infect them. After invading cells, the virus replicates into many identical copies. Neuraminidase enables these new copies to exit the host cell. Currently, there are 16 known variants of hemagglutinin and 9 known variants of neuraminidase.

To date, the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus has resulted in the deaths of millions of domestic birds. Despite the millions of people who have had close contact with domestic fowl during the past nine years in Asia, more than 320 people have been infected worldwide. This is an extremely low rate of infection. However, human health officials are concerned with the 61 percent mortality rate of people that have been infected.

The available evidence supports the contention that migrating birds are responsible for part of the spread of the highly pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu. However, the illegal movement and trade of poultry has also been implicated in the dispersal of the virus and seen by most authorities as the most serious threat to spread the disease.

Because some waterfowl and shorebird species migrate between Alaska and Asia and across the Atlantic from Europe, authorities in the wildlife conservation, hunting and medical professions are taking steps to monitor the situation closely and take action if necessary. The probability of the arrival of high pathogenic Asian H5N1 avian flu in North American waterfowl cannot be predicted. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.

To date, transmission from domestic poultry, through contact with infected birds, contaminated surfaces or feces, is the most prevalent way this Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu virus has caused human infection. One single incident of wild bird to human transmission has been recorded as described in the above.