FACTS ABOUT BIRD FLU
Q. What is bird flu (avian influenza)?
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. All birds appear to be susceptible to bird flu, though some species are more resistant to infection than others.
Q. How does bird flu spread?
Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions.
Q. What is the risk to humans from bird flu?
The risk from bird flu is generally low to most people because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds.
To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Q. Why is there so much concern over bird flu?
At present, the bird flu virus (H5N1) is only capable of limited and inefficient bird-to-human transmission. However, it has the potential to mutate and may develop the capability to spread more easily from human to human. As these viruses do not commonly infect people, there is little or no immunity against them in the human population. If bird flu virus gained the ability for efficient human-to-human spread, it could cause an influenza pandemic.
Q. What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
The reported symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia and life-threatening complications. The time from exposure to the source of infection to onset of influenza is likely to be between three and five days, with a maximum time of seven days.
Q. Is there any way to treat bird flu?
Anti-viral drugs (e.g., Tamiflu) appear to be effective in treating bird flu.
Q. Does flu vaccination help to prevent bird flu?
The flu vaccine currently in use worldwide protects against different strains of the human flu virus, but offers little protection from bird flu.
EATING CHICKEN AND POULTRY
Q. Is it safe to eat chicken, eggs and other poultry?
Yes. The poultry and eggs available in the market are safe to eat. However, they should be well cooked. Eating any raw or semi-cooked food comes with an inherent food safety risk.
Q. What about canned and processed poultry products?
Yes, such food products are also safe to eat. All canned products undergo a heat process that effectively destroys any viruses.
Q. Is it safe to handle chickens, eggs and other poultry bought from the market?
Yes, it is safe to handle them. However, you should still practice general food safety precautions.
PET BIRDS
Q. What should I do if my pet bird falls sick?
Call your veterinarian for advice. If you have more than one bird, separate the healthy birds from the sick bird if possible. The birds could be kept in enclosures (e.g. cage, hen house or a netted area) that are not adjacent to each other. As a general precaution, adopt hygiene practices such as washing your hands thoroughly with soap after handling the birds.
Q. Is it safe to visit parks and zoo?
The UAE is currently reported to be free from bird flu. It is safe to go to parks and zoo where birds can be found.
Q. Is it safe to keep birds or poultry as pets, or to come into contact with live birds and poultry?
All live birds imported in the UAE are checked by the regulatory authorities of government for infectious diseases including bird flu. The risk of pet birds getting infected is also very low. However, as a precaution, you should keep your birds in a bird-proof enclosure (e.g., cage, hen house) so that they do not come into contact with wild birds. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling your pets.
Q. What are the signs of a chicken that has bird flu?
An infected chicken may show one or more of these symptoms:
• Lack of energy and appetite
• Swelling of head, eyelids, comb, wattles and legs
• Purple discoloration of the wattles and combs
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing and sneezing
• Diarrhoea
• Sudden death
That's it.......
Q. What is bird flu (avian influenza)?
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. All birds appear to be susceptible to bird flu, though some species are more resistant to infection than others.
Q. How does bird flu spread?
Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions.
Q. What is the risk to humans from bird flu?
The risk from bird flu is generally low to most people because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds.
To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Q. Why is there so much concern over bird flu?
At present, the bird flu virus (H5N1) is only capable of limited and inefficient bird-to-human transmission. However, it has the potential to mutate and may develop the capability to spread more easily from human to human. As these viruses do not commonly infect people, there is little or no immunity against them in the human population. If bird flu virus gained the ability for efficient human-to-human spread, it could cause an influenza pandemic.
Q. What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
The reported symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia and life-threatening complications. The time from exposure to the source of infection to onset of influenza is likely to be between three and five days, with a maximum time of seven days.
Q. Is there any way to treat bird flu?
Anti-viral drugs (e.g., Tamiflu) appear to be effective in treating bird flu.
Q. Does flu vaccination help to prevent bird flu?
The flu vaccine currently in use worldwide protects against different strains of the human flu virus, but offers little protection from bird flu.
EATING CHICKEN AND POULTRY
Q. Is it safe to eat chicken, eggs and other poultry?
Yes. The poultry and eggs available in the market are safe to eat. However, they should be well cooked. Eating any raw or semi-cooked food comes with an inherent food safety risk.
Q. What about canned and processed poultry products?
Yes, such food products are also safe to eat. All canned products undergo a heat process that effectively destroys any viruses.
Q. Is it safe to handle chickens, eggs and other poultry bought from the market?
Yes, it is safe to handle them. However, you should still practice general food safety precautions.
PET BIRDS
Q. What should I do if my pet bird falls sick?
Call your veterinarian for advice. If you have more than one bird, separate the healthy birds from the sick bird if possible. The birds could be kept in enclosures (e.g. cage, hen house or a netted area) that are not adjacent to each other. As a general precaution, adopt hygiene practices such as washing your hands thoroughly with soap after handling the birds.
Q. Is it safe to visit parks and zoo?
The UAE is currently reported to be free from bird flu. It is safe to go to parks and zoo where birds can be found.
Q. Is it safe to keep birds or poultry as pets, or to come into contact with live birds and poultry?
All live birds imported in the UAE are checked by the regulatory authorities of government for infectious diseases including bird flu. The risk of pet birds getting infected is also very low. However, as a precaution, you should keep your birds in a bird-proof enclosure (e.g., cage, hen house) so that they do not come into contact with wild birds. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling your pets.
Q. What are the signs of a chicken that has bird flu?
An infected chicken may show one or more of these symptoms:
• Lack of energy and appetite
• Swelling of head, eyelids, comb, wattles and legs
• Purple discoloration of the wattles and combs
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing and sneezing
• Diarrhoea
• Sudden death
That's it.......
