Avian flu viruses do not usually infect humans. However, several cases of human infection with avian flu viruses have occurred since 1997. While it is unusual for people to get influenza infections directly from animals, sporadic human infections and outbreaks caused by certain avian influenza viruses and pig influenza viruses have been reported. These sporadic human infections and outbreaks, however, rarely result in sustained transmission among humans.

Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.

There is no vaccine for humans against avian flu. The vaccine against human influenza virus does not protect against avian flu.

Avian influenza (bird flu) viruses do not usually infect humans, but a number of confirmed cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997, usually in persons who had close contact with infected poultry. One bird flu virus strain known as avian influenza A (H5N1) has been of particular concern in recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains situation updates and cumulative reports of human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1).

It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission so far.

The symptoms of avian flu in humans may be similar to those for the common seasonal flu but usually progress more aggressively and may also include:

Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.

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)

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.

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.

Avian influenza rarely causes disease in humans. The mechanism of transmission from birds to humans is poorly understood. Transmission to humans may possibly occur via direct contact with the excrement of contaminated poultry or birds. As yet, there is no evidence of transmission from one human to another. Vietnam and Thailand have reported human cases of infection with the H5N1 virus. There have been no human cases of H5N1 infection in Québec or Canada.

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.

Symptoms of avian (bird) flu have ranged from flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, breathing problems, and other life-threatening ailments.

The reported symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections (conjunctivitis), pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.

Avian influenza viruses circulate among birds worldwide. In addition to the large outbreaks in birds that have occurred in several countries in Asia, smaller outbreaks have been reported in British Columbia, Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, and other locations in North America. It is rare in humans. To date, a number of subtypes (including H5N1, H7N7, H9N2) of the avian influenza virus have been known to cause illness in people, with H5N1 associated with the most serious illness in humans.

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.

Yes. Since December 2003, there have been 117 human cases, resulting in 60 deaths. The human cases have been limited to four Asian nations: Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

So far, virtually all the 100 or so avian-flu cases identified in humans can be traced directly back to contact with live chickens. Infected birds pass the virus through feces, and it affects humans that breathe in the fecal dust. The virus is not passed on in the meat or eggs, so there’s no danger from eating cooked chicken.

In its current form, very. So far, about 65 people have died from the disease, resulting in a mortality rate near 70%. By comparison, the SARS outbreak of 2003 infected 8,098 people around the globe and killed 774, for a 9.6% death rate. The disease can kill within a week, destroying the lungs and other organs. If it’s anything like the Spanish-flu outbreak, its main victims will be otherwise healthy adults.

Initially avian flu was believed to infect birds only, but then the first human victims surfaced in Hong Kong in 1997. Normally, we humans fall prey to the disease when we come in close contact with live infected birds. The virus of avian bird flu is excreted by infected birds, which is inhaled by humans when it pulverizes. Avian bird flu is tough to diagnose on account of the fact that its symptoms are similar to other types of flu - fever, malaise, sore throats and coughs.

In order for the H5N1 virus to achieve human to human transmission, the virus itself will have to mutate. In the nine years that the virus has been monitored, it has shown that it can mutate relatively easily, being able to infect both domestic and wild birds, dogs, cats, (including tigers and leopards) and pigs. Of note, pigs are of concern because of the similarity of pig and human tissue.

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.