What is the risk of a pandemic?
Unfortunately, no one knows the answer. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency coordinating the global response to avian flu and possible pandemics and they plainly state the facts and say that no one knows if a pandemic will come. Nevertheless, a WHO statement declared that “in 2004, the world moved closer to a further pandemic than it has been at any time since 1968”. There were more cases in 2005 than in 2004 and in 2006 there have been more cases than in 2005.
The facts are these:
- There were three pandemics in the past century, 1918, 1957, 1968.
- Avian influenza subtypes caused all known pandemics.
- Pandemics are caused when a virus unknown to the human immune system emerges, infects humans, causes severe illness and death, and is spread easily from human to human.
- The H5N1 bird flu virus had never infected people before 1997. Of the more than 240 people infected since 2003, 59 per cent have died.
- H5N1 avian influenza is not spread easily from human to human and only a handful of cases of human transmission have been confirmed in people who were in very close contact with bird flu patients in Indonesia.
How can I prepare for a pandemic?
Being prepared for a pandemic may mean being as self sufficient as possible for one to three months or more. Basic services may be disrupted due to employee absences because of illness, travel may be restricted, schools may be closed, local supermarkets could be closed, and public transportation may be halted. See Preparing for a Pandemic.
Is bird flu easy to get?
Not unless you are a bird. Bird to Human Transmission of Bird Flu is the most common way people have gotten bird flu. Human to human transmission has only been recorded in a handful of people who had very close contact with bird flu patients. Transmission of bird flu to humans from other animals, such as dogs and cats, has yet to be reported. Bird to Bird Transmission of Bird Flu is very efficient.
Can I get it from eating poultry and eggs?
Maybe, but you cannot get bird flu from Properly Cooked Poultry. Poultry meat should reach a temperature of 180 F and eggs should not have a runny yolk.
Have there been any human cases of H5N1 avian flu in the US?
No. See the Updated Daily Human Cases of H5N1 Bird Flu Since 2003. There have been some cases of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) H5N1 in wild birds in the US, but this virus is not the same H5N1 that is circulating in Asia and poses no risk to humans, or birds. People in the US have been exposed to other, harmless avian influenza viruses.
Is there an avian influenza vaccine for people?
No, there isn’t. There are H5N1 vaccines in progress, but they are still in clinical trials. In addition, vaccines that are made today are unlikely to be effective against a most probably mutated strain that would cause a pandemic. See Pandemic Flu Vaccine Perspectives.
Will the regular flu shot help me?
Yes. The flu shot contains 2 subtypes of Influenza A and one Influenza B type. Avian influenza is a subtype of the Influenza A virus and it is thought that once immune to one of the types of hemagglutinin (the “H” of H5N1) or neuraminidase (the “N” of H5N1) the body may have a better chance of fighting off a strain with similar subtypes.
The flu shot will also avoid a person from getting the regular flu and avian flu at the same time. The combination of an ordinary flu virus and a novel avian influenza virus could end up in reassortment making a potentially more infectious killer virus.
What kinds of drugs are there to treat avian influenza?
Antiviral drugs targeting influenza’s neuraminidase component may help fight bird flu, but it not clear how helpful these drugs are in treating avian influenza in humans. Three antiviral drugs may be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms and reducing the number of days a person is ill thereby reducing the occurrence of complications: Tamiflu (oseltamivir), Relenza (zanamivir) and Peramivir (still in clinical trials).
So, what can I do to prevent getting bird flu?
You can do a lot to protect yourself from bird flu by Washing Your Hands Properly, staying away from public gatherings in the event of a pandemic, and staying away from infected people and animals. Masks, gloves, aprons and other personal protective equipment are only recommended for healthcare professionals at the moment.
Is there anything I can do to protect my dogs and cats?
Dogs and cats can get bird flu, but it is not very common. You can Prevent Bird Flu in Your Dog or Cat by keeping them away from infected birds, dead or alive, and keeping them away from infected dogs and cats.
Sources:
- New York Times, Denise Grady and Gina Kolata. “How Serious is the Risk of Avian Flu?” March 27, 2006.
- World Health Organization. Assessing the Pandemic Threat. January 2005.
- World Health Organization. Avian influenza “bird flu” Fact Sheet.. February 2006.