(Last Updated: Jan. 17, 2007)
What is Avian (Bird) Flu?
Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a non-human flu virus that causes infection in birds. Bird flu spreads fast among birds and can make some domesticated birds – like chickens and ducks – very sick and can kill them.
Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans. However, the most recent outbreak of bird flu has infected people, mainly in Southeast Asian countries. When the illness infects people, it is very serious. So far, over half the people sick with bird flu have died.
As of January 2007, bird flu has not been found in people in the United States.
People get bird flu from contact with sick birds. Sick birds shed the virus in saliva and fecal droppings. A person can catch bird flu when a sick chicken coughs or sneezes onto a person’s face, or when a person breathes in bird dropping particles.
People may also get the virus by eating undercooked poultry. You cannot get the virus by eating properly cooked poultry or eggs. Be sure your poultry is fully cooked.
If exposed to bird flu, you could have symptoms for up to 14 days. Symptoms usually include the flu-like symptoms of fever: cough, sore throat, muscle aches, shortness of breath and even eye infections. Serious cases of bird flu cause life-threatening breathing problems including pneumonia. It can even cause death.
Scientists and health professionals are worried that the current virus in birds may change and develop into a virus that spreads easily from person-to-person, causing the next pandemic in humans. Once a flu pandemic begins, it is not possible to prevent or stop it.
Currently, there is no vaccine for bird flu. To protect yourself against bird flu, health officials recommend you take the same steps you would to protect yourself against any other flu or cold.
Avian (Bird Flu) fact sheets in
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How to Protect Yourself Against Avian (Bird) Flu
These common-sense steps can help stop the spread of flu germs:
- Wash your hands frequently using soap and water, or alcohol-base hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Put used tissues in the trash and then wash your hands.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to prevent germs from getting into our body.
- If you get sick, stay home and away from others as much as you can.
- Don’t send sick children to school.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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Resources
Website links:
PowerPoint Presentations
- What you Need to Know about Bird Flu: Separating Fact from Fiction: Dr. Muntu Davis, ACPHD Deputy Health Officer (PDF)
- Avian & Pandemic Influenza Planning for Local Government: Dr. Muntu Davis, ACPHD Deputy Health Officer - October 2006 (PDF)
- Avian and Pandemic Influenza- Howard Backer, MD, California Dept. of Health Services: July 2006 PDF
Contact us:
Bioterrorism/Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program
1000 Broadway / Fifth Floor
Oakland, Ca 94607
(510) 268-7023
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