Bird Flu (Avian Flu, Avian Influenza)

Influenza viruses that infect birds are called avian influenza viruses. These viruses don't usually infect humans. A relatively small number of people in East Asia have gotten sick with a particular avian flu strain (called H5N1). This virus has not shown transmission from one human to another to date.

A pandemic is an outbreak of an illness affecting a large fraction of the people in a given region, country, or the world as a whole.

Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds. The spread of avian influenza viruses from an ill person to another person has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress syndrome), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which specific virus subtype and strain caused the infection.

Currently, wearing a mask is not recommended for routine use (e.g., in public) for preventing influenza exposure.

There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry or eggs can be a source of infection for avian influenza viruses.

Currently there is no vaccine for humans effective against the avian flu virus seen in Asia. The regular yearly flu vaccine will offer no protection against the bird flu. However, vaccine development efforts are under way.

Studies done in laboratories suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human influenza viruses should work in treating avian influenza infection in humans. However, influenza viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work.

No. There are a few reasons why having Tamiflu available in your home is not a good idea.

It's not clear whether Tamiflu is effective against the current strain of the avian flu. In addition, flu viruses are constantly changing so that if there is ever an outbreak of bird flu in the UK, Tamiflu may not be effective against that strain.

Taking an antiviral medication such as Tamiflu if not necessary may cause the virus to develop resistance to the medication. In that case, Tamiflu may become ineffective against bird flu and against the ordinary flu when needed most, during an outbreak.

Tamiflu is not a vaccine; it can't protect you against flu in the future if you take it now. It is only effective while you are taking it.

Most importantly, we don’t know if there will ever be an outbreak of avian flu in the U.K.

Staying away from live poultry and poultry farms are recommended. If you become ill with fever or flu-like symptoms while away or within 10 days of returning home, seek medical care.

Check out:BBC website to see what the UK is doing about bird flu.

Your university vice-chancellor or college principal should be making emergency planning measures. Get in touch with your local students’ union if you want to know what these are.