Defining Bird Flu aka Avian Flu

With the bird flu/avian flu becoming more and more of a global concern, it is of ever increasing importance for people to have an understanding of what the bird flu is. Here is a brief description to help you out.

The term “avian flu” literally means “flu from viruses adapted to birds”. However, it is also often incorrectly used to refer to other flu types and the viruses that caused them, or the virus itself. All of the current known avian flu viruses are of the species Influenza A virus, of which all of the subtypes are adapted to birds. The majority of them may be transferred to other species, but the new carrier does not actually get the disease, and so does not get the “flu”.

In current lingo, however, the bird flu has become the layman’s term for the H5N1 virus – a form of avian flu that has been known to infect humans. For an unknown reason, this strain of the virus has evolved into a strain that is particularly infectious one. In humans, approximately 50% of those who were infected with the virus died from it, making it a very real scare. Currently, this particular strain is only infectious from bird to human, and not from human to human contact. If it were to mutate to a form that made it easy to pass from one person to another, it could cause a major health crisis.

Because of all of the confusion, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published specific guidelines for defining bird flu cases in humans. These guidelines clearly break up human cases into three categories: people who are suspected of having the bird flu, those who have a probable infection of the bird flu, and those that have been confirmed by laboratory diagnosis to have the bird flu. For statistical information, WHO only wants probably and confirmed cases to be reported to them, while suspected cases are useful for local governments to monitor the situation. A confirmed case is via laboratory diagnosis. A suspected case is based on symptoms and exposures. Those with a probable diagnosis have a combination of preliminary tests that are positive, as well as symptoms and exposure.

Many people are still unsure of what exactly the bird flu means. They are concerned about catching it from a neighbor with a cold, or a bird at a backyard feeder. Misinformation can be a source of panic for the general population.

As with many diseases, the best cure is prevention. If you work with chickens or other birds you should be extra cautious. Avoid contact with wild birds, including ducks and other waterfowl. Limit the number of people coming in and out of the poultries to essential personnel only. Always use proper disinfection procedures in the poultries, and follow all regulatory hand washing and cleaning requirements. Any unusual sickness or death among the birds should be reported to authorities, as well as any illnesses experienced by workers.

If you are going to be traveling in an area where bird flu has been diagnosed, there are some things that you can do to protect yourself as well. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling chicken meat or other forms of poultry. Thoroughly clean and disinfect kitchen surfaces and utensils before and after use. Chicken should be cooked thoroughly at a boiling temperature. Do not buy or sell live chickens in a market where there is a threat of the bird flu. If you keep chickens as pets or a food source, do not allow them to roam freely. Avoid wild birds. Any unusual deaths or sickness among birds should be reported to authorities, as well as any respiratory illness in a person who has been exposed to dead or sick birds.