General Information About Avian Flu

What is Pandemic Flu?
How does a flu pandemic start?
What is avian influenza (bird flu)?
How does avian influenza spread among birds?
Does bird flu affect humans?
How do humans catch bird flu?
Who is at risk?
Is there a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu?
Are there medications available to help treat the avian flu?
Does the current seasonal flu vaccine protect me from avian flu? 
What are the symptoms of avian flu?
What can I do?

What is Pandemic Flu?

Pandemic flu is a type of influenza that occurs every few decades, spreading rapidly and affecting most countries and regions around the world.

How does a flu pandemic start?

Flu viruses are constantly changing, producing new strains of the virus. Pandemics occur when a virus develops so that is different from previously circulating forms, resulting in a strain to which few, if any, people have any immunity. This allows it to spread widely and rapidly, affecting many.

What is avian influenza (bird flu)? The Avian flu virus (H5N1) is a specific strain of the influenza virus that has been found in worldwide populations of birds and has recently been known to also infect some humans. 

Experts believe that this strain has a very good chance of mutating to a form that is easily transmittable from human-to-human. Because this specific strain is very different than flu strains of the past, people have almost no immunity to H5N1.  Therefore, it can be the cause of a worldwide pandemic flu.

How does avian influenza spread among birds?

Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Other birds become infected when they come into contact with contaminated secretions, or with surfaces that have been defiled with excretions or secretions.

Does bird flu affect humans?

Bird flu viruses generally do not affect humans, but to date more than 250 cases of human bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).

How do humans catch bird flu?

Currently, the only way for a human to contract the disease is to come into direct contact with an infected bird’s excretions or secretions. In impoverished countries where humans live in close contact to chickens and birds (Vietnam, Indonesia, China….), there is a greater risk for humans to contract the disease. In the US today, there is little to no risk of contracting the virus.

The greater risk however, is if and when the virus mutates to a form that can easily be transmitted from human to human. If this happens, the virus can be easily passed along in a similar way to that of the regular annual flu; through airborne particles. If this were to occur, a worldwide pandemic is almost guaranteed, and is likely to cause many deaths and disrupt the lives of many people.

Who is at risk?

Once an influenza pandemic starts (i.e. the virus mutates), everybody will be at risk. Certain groups may be at a greater risk than others, but we will not know for certain the high risk groups until the virus starts circulating.

Until the mutation occurs, however, there is no risk for any person that does not come in contact with birds and poultry to contract the disease. If you are traveling to countries where there were reported outbreaks of H5N1 among poultry, you’d want to make sure to stay away from bird or poultry farms and to avoid close contact with any live or dead poultry.

Is there a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu?

Currently, there is no vaccine available against the avian H5N1 flu strain. The government has sponsored the development of a vaccine, but there is no guarantee that this will protect against the H5N1 strain, as it continuously mutates to different forms. 

The only way to guarantee a vaccine will work is if it is made from the flu strain itself. Because this virus has not yet mutated to a human-to-human form, that strain does not exist; it is therefore impossible to start producing a reliable vaccine. In fact, it will take at least 6 months after the first mutation before the vaccine will be available to the general public.

Are there medications available to help treat the avian flu?

Anti-viral medications are available and can be used to treat influenza. They have been shown to be very helpful in treating patients with the ordinary flu, and there is no reason to assume they won’t be as effective in treating avian flu. Clinical trials have been performed on ferrets and other animals where they have been successful in minimizing the effects of avian flu.

The two most popular anti-virals are Relenza and Tamiflu. Although they do not stop the flu from developing (unless taken prophylactic for an extended period of time), they do subdue the symptoms significantly, reduce the amount of time people are sick, and most importantly: save lives.

Does the current seasonal flu vaccine protect me from avian flu? 

No. Ordinary flu vaccine does not protect against pandemic flu, as the strains are different.

The CDC and all health officials, however, strongly suggest that the public take their annual flu shot, especially in these times where there is a risk of avian flu. There are many reasons for this, most important of which is that it boosts your overall immune system.  In the case of a pandemic, a strong immune system is of utmost importance. 

What are the symptoms of avian flu?

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans are similar to symptoms of the typical human influenza, but usually with increased severity. These symptoms include: fever, cough, upper respiratory pain, sore throat and muscle aches.

What can I do?

Preparation is the key to remaining healthy in the event of a pandemic. Understanding the risks, learning how the disease is transmitted, employing proper methods of prevention, and utilizing the medications available to treat influenza are all important pieces that will help you and your family remain healthy and limit exposure to pandemic flu. For specific details and a checklist for individuals, link here to Affiliated Physicians personal preparedness guide and checklist.