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. The only documented cases of transmission to humans are from poultry; these cases include both highly pathogenic and low pathogenic strains of avian influenza. the present time, close contact with infected domestic poultry has been the primary way that people have become infected with the HPAI H5N1 virus.

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).

People infected with the current strand of the avian virus (H5N1) have shown everything from typical human influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other life-threatening complications. Symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which specific virus subtype and strain caused the infection. Experts believe it highly unlikely that a pandemic influenza virus could be created by terrorists.

Avian influenza (AI) viruses, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus present in Asia, may, on rare occasions, cause disease in humans. Transmission to humans has occurred by people having close contact with infected birds or heavily contaminated environments. Due to the potential for human infection, it is recommended that those people working with or in contact with poultry suspected of being infected with AI wear protective clothing, including face masks, goggles, gloves and boots.

Two main risks for human health from avian influenza are 1) the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from the infected bird to humans, sometimes resulting in severe disease; and 2) the risk that the virus - if given enough opportunities - will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person.

Avian 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.

Avian influenza is an animal disease and dangerous mainly for birds. It is not very dangerous for humans. There are many different avian influenza viruses, most of which are completely harmless for humans. The avian influenza virus H5N1, which has now also been found in Germany, can infect humans. However, this happens very rarely and only in people who have intensive contact with infected poultry, in other words farmers and poultry breeders.

Answer: The current anti-viral treatments, which are used successfully in the treatment of influenza, would be used in the treatment of avian influenza. What measures are being/will be implemented to screen travellers, students and business people arriving from overseas areas of concern for Avian Flu? There have been media reports of screening occurring at airports.

Answer: People need to have close contact with infected birds or poultry manure to get avian influenza. The virus is found in bird faeces and respiratory secretions. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus at this time.

Humans have contracted avian influenza through close and direct contact with infected birds. Most human cases have occurred in rural areas where many households keep small poultry flocks which often roam freely. There have been no known outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in North America.

Answer: Not yet. It is possible that a vaccine using the H5N1 strain of influenza may give partial protection if that strain changes and spreads more easily among humans. Prototypes of an H5N1 vaccine are being developed by several manufacturers around the world, including Australia’s domestic manufacturer, CSL Limited. The government is committed to buying a substantial amount of H5N1 vaccine as soon as it is proven safe and effective (see Section 3.

It is possible for a human to acquire the H5N1 HPAI virus from another infected human if there is extremely close contact. However, scientists say that the virus has not yet developed the ability to pass easily from human to human, and human-to-human transmission is extremely unlikely.

Yes, but rarely. The H5N1 virus has demonstrated a limited ability to spread from birds to humans. Despite circulating widely in bird populations in Asia for nearly two years, there have only been about 120 confirmed human infections, including 60 deaths (mostly in Vietnam). In all but a few of these cases, the infected patients have had close contact with infected birds.