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Avian Flu – What you should know!. Avian Flu a.k.a. Bird Flu. REMEMBER. The ABC television movie titled “Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America” It was a movie not fact . There is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time.!. Avian Flu. Influenza A viruses
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REMEMBER The ABC television movie titled “Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America” It was a movie not fact. There is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time.!
Avian Flu • Influenza A viruses • Generally only found in birds • Low human risks (generally) • Reports of human infection have occurred since 1997
What does influenza infect ? • Birds (domestic and wild) • Cats • Humans • Pigs • Aquatic mammals (seals, whales) • Horses • Possible in dogs, mice, and rats
Avian Influenza A • There are many subtypes of type A influenza viruses. All known subtypes of influenza A viruses can be found in birds. • The most commonly observed that is of high concern, has been subtype H5N1
H5N2 • During 1983-1984 an epidemic of subtype H5N2 occurred in the U.S. and began with low mortality. • Within six months the mortality approached 90 percent. Control required destruction of 17 million birds.
Virus strains-subtypes • H5N1 • H9N2 • H7N2 • H7N7 • H7N3
Key Facts about Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus • Virus occurs naturally among birds. • Wild birds carry the virus in their intestines, but may not get sick. However, domesticated birds (duck, chickens and turkeys) get extremely sick and often die. • Infected birds shed influenza through saliva, nasal secretions and feces. • Domestic birds may become infected by direct contact or contact with surfaces or materials that have been contaminated with the virus.
Key Facts about Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus • Virus may survive more than one month in bird droppings during cold weather and usually a week during hot weather.
Standard Precautions • Quarantines • Stringent sanitation measures • Reduce livestock and pet contact • Reduce human contact
Bird Import Ban • Birds • Bird products
Should I wear a surgical mask to prevent exposure to avian flu ? • Currently, it is not recommended for routine prevention in the USA. • However, disposable surgical and procedure masks have been widely used in health-care settings to minimize exposure to respiratory infections.
Is it safe to be around flocks of wild or domestic birds ? • Yes, currently only in the US
How is it spread to me ? • Direct contact (bird, feces, mucus) • Contaminated surfaces • Through an intermediate host (pig, horse)
Poultry is raised next door, are they safe ? • Yes, for sanitary reasons, you should wash your hands after handling any poultry or other animal.
What are the symptoms in birds ? • Discharge from eyes, nose, swollen sinuses and a fluffed-up appearance. • In severe cases, swelling of head, comb, legs, feet, along with a blue coloration of their mucus membranes.
What precautions should hunters observe ? • Do not handle or eat sick game. • Wear rubber or disposable gloves while handling and cleaning game. • Wash hands with soap and water or an alcohol based hand cleaning product. • Thoroughly clean knives, equipment and surfaces that come in contact with game. • Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling game • Cook all game thoroughly.
What precautions should hunters observe ? • Reminder, many game birds are migratory…………….
Is it safe to dispose of a dead wild bird ? • It is legal to dispose of dead wild birds in the trash. • Contact you local county health department, UT Extension office or Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) if multiple dead animals are observed. Remember, use rubber gloves when handling any dead animal.
Suggestions for pet owners • If you are within 100 miles of an outbreak, if possible, keep pets (cats and dogs) indoors. • Limit range of horses near forested areas • Do not allow any livestock or pets to feed near dead animals. • If possible, keep barns free of wild birds.
Signs of Avian Flu in domestic cats • Pyrexia (elevated body temperature) • Protruding third eyelid • Conjunctivitis • Labored breathing associated with acute pneumonia
10 Facts About Avian Flu • Avian influenza type H5N1 is a disease currently affecting birds in several parts of the world. Most of the affected birds are wild waterfowl such as swans and ducks. • The H5N1 virus does not easily cross from birds to humans. • People that have been infected in other parts of the world had been in close contact with live or dead infected birds, principally domestic poultry. • As the epidemic affects wild birds, it can be expected to continue to affect various regions in the coming months. • The disease may occasionally spread from birds to other animals such as cats. This should not lead to any significant increase in the risk to humans.
10 Facts About Avian Flucontd. 6. Very stringent veterinary measures are in place in the EU. 7. Temporary protection and surveillance zones are established in areas where infected birds are found. 8. Very specific measures are also in place to protect domestic poultry and to prevent infected birds entering the food chain. 9. In any case, thorough cooking ensures that meat and eggs are free of any virus. 10. The risk to the public of catching the H5N1 virus from live animals or from poultry products is very low.
Take Home Points • There is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time. • The H5N1 subtype is almost exclusively a disease of birds. • Currently, the virus has not spread human to human. • There are various subtypes of this virus. • Become informed not alarmed!
Consumption of Poultry Products • It is safe to eat poultry. • Trade from protection and surveillance zones within the EU (where infected birds have been found) is only allowed under strict veterinary controls and imports from affected 3rd countries are banned. • In case of an outbreak on a poultry farm, the entire flock would be culled and disposed of immediately. Poultry meat and eggs produced on these farms are also destroyed. • Even in the very unlikely event of the virus being present in meat or eggs, thorough cooking destroys the virus. So well-cooked meat and eggs pose no risk. • Meat from vaccinated poultry is not harmful for human health as the virus included in the vaccine is killed and cannot multiply.
Groups at Risk • People who keep birds such as chickens, ducks and geese near where they live need not be overly alarmed, but they should be aware of the risks. • Other people who come into regular contact with poultry (e.g. farm workers, vets) or wild birds (e.g. hunters, bird watchers) also need to be aware of the risks and take precautions. • Travelers should be aware of the risk and those living or traveling to areas where infected birds have been found may need to take precautions. National authorities are there to advise on any questions. • Other members of the public - It is very unlikely that other members of the public would be in contact with infected birds.
Good Sense Precautions • Don't touch sick or dead wild birds or poultry and inform your local veterinary authorities if you find any suspicious numbers of dead or ill birds. • Follow the normal rules of good hygiene -- i.e. wash your hands with soap after contact with birds or their droppings • If there is an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza among birds in your area: a. Authorities may impose temporary restrictions on the movement of poultry and declare certain places off-limit to people. It is important that you follow these instructions as they are designed to stop the virus spreading. b. In these areas, pet cats should be kept indoors to prevent them from coming into contact with wild infected birds or their droppings, and to prevent them transporting the virus on their paws and becoming infected themselves.
- Follow instructions from local veterinary authorities, especially on the • need to feed and water poultry indoors and to keep poultry indoors in • risk areas. • Notify the authorities if unusually high numbers of dead wild birds • are seen, or if unusually high numbers of their birds die. In this case, • people are not to touch dead or sick birds themselves • Keep the birds out of their home and follow good hygiene rules in particular, • hand washing with soap when in contact with birds or bird excrement. • Discourage their children from playing with the birds and teach them to tell • an adult if they see sick or dead birds. • Make sure children in particular understand the rules of basic hygiene. • Never slaughter or eat sick or dying birds, as this could carry greater risk.
Travel There is little or no risk from traveling to countries outside Europe or areas inside the EU where avian flu has been detected, provided you avoid visiting poultry farms or bird markets and follow the precautions outlined earlier.
