What is avian flu?

Avian flu, often known as bird flu, is a type of influenza virus that infects birds. Because there are more than 140 strains of avian flu, the disease is often classified according to the severity of its symptoms. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, causes severe sickness or death in animals. Low pathogenic avian influenza, or LPAI, causes mild if not unnoticeable illness in animals and does not pose a significant health threat to humans.

In some parts of the world, primarily in Asia, a very dangerous strain of influenza has global health officials concerned because it has caused severe sickness and death among humans who were infected through their contact with sick birds.

Can I get avian flu?

Avian flu viruses, as a whole, do not usually infect humans. Since avian flu is an animal virus, the risk is extremely low for humans who are not in direct contact with infected chickens, ducks or wild birds. If the animal virus were to mutate into a form that is easily spread from person to person, plans are in place for government officials around the world and the World Health Organization to help prevent the new disease from becoming a pandemic.

What risks are there if avian flu is detected in wild birds?

Experts believe there is currently very little risk to people in the United States if avian flu is detected in wild birds. Wild birds are regarded as sentinels for tracking the virus. Upon finding a wild bird with avian flu, the U.S. government would coordinate enhanced wild bird surveillance in the area where the event occurred and assess the risk wild birds pose to the transmission of avian flu to susceptible livestock and poultry. Greater surveillance of livestock and poultry would be conducted as necessary to detect quickly avian flu in chickens. Early detection is critical to protecting the nation’s poultry flocks.

How is avian flu treated in humans?

A normal flu infection in the United States is usually prevented through a vaccine or treated with antiviral medications as soon as symptoms develop. Currently, there is no available vaccine for avian flu. Anti-virals are being used to treat the disease in sick persons and prevent the disease among those who have come into direct contact with them. The United States is developing a national stockpile of antiviral drugs to help treat and control the spread of the virus, and the government is supporting the manufacturing and testing of possible vaccines, including finding more reliable and quicker ways to produce large quantities of vaccines. In addition to these measures, federal, state and local agencies are providing guidance and encouragement to communities, businesses and organizations to plan for a pandemic influenza outbreak.

Global time and resources are being geared toward preventing and eradicating the virus in birds in order to prevent or minimize its occurrence and reduce the risk of a global pandemic.

Can species other than birds get the avian flu virus? Is there a livestock risk other than poultry?

There is a risk, although rare, among livestock other than poultry. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that there have been cases where the avian flu virus has jumped between species. The USDA is currently researching this issue in order to provide updated biosecurity guidance for farmers.

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