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Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) : Information for those who have been in contact with infected poultry.[Click here for maltese version] What is bird flu?
Bird flu is an infectious disease of birds and less commonly pigs caused by influenza viruses. There may be little or no obvious disease in wild waterfowl, but sometimes large outbreaks of highly infectious disease occur in domestic poultry leading to large numbers of deaths. Are there different types of bird flu?
Can bird flu viruses cause infections in people?
Up to now people have rarely been infected with avian/bird flu. When it has happened, it has mainly been caused by close contact with live infected birds or their droppings, or following slaughtering, plucking, or butchering of diseased poultry. There have been reports of a limited number of cases in which it may have spread from person-to-person. What are the symptoms?
Most people infected with bird flu get fever (38°C or higher) followed by flu-like symptoms, including cough, runny nose, sore throat, and shortness of breath. Diarrhoea is often present early on in the illness, but may start up to one week before the flu-like symptoms. People can also have stomach pain or vomiting or headache. Why is it so important to prevent bird flu infections in
people?
Although few people become infected, this is a serious disease with a high fatality (from what we know to date more than 50% of those who get it die). Flu viruses are by their nature very changeable. The virus can change (mutate) to a form that makes it more infectious and easily spread from person to person. Alternatively if a person is infected with bird and human flu at the same time, the two viruses can mix and the bird flu virus can pick up information from the human flu virus that helps it to spread easily from person to person. If the virus picks up the ability too spread easily from person to person, it could start a worldwide flu outbreak (pandemic flu). What is a contact of bird flu and how do I know if I am
one?
A contact of bird flu is a person who has been in direct contact (within three feet or 1 metre) of a space or potential source of bird flu virus, within the past seven days. This means direct handling of birds, or sharing the same confined airspace as the birds or their droppings. This can happen if you live on a poultry farm, or work with poultry, or keep poultry at home, and the poultry are infected or suspected of having of bird flu. The virus is present in large amounts in the droppings of poultry with bird flu. I a case/outbreak of bird flu occurs, public health doctors and vets will assess the risk of you being a contact, and will advise on what precautions to take. What is the advice if I am identified as a contact?
(1)
Take a drug to
prevent bird flu You will be offered a drug called Tamiflu or Oseltamivir to prevent infection with bird flu. Public health doctors will contact you and will advise on taking this medication, and will provide it free of charge. (2)
Watch out for suspicious symptoms You need to be on the look out for the following symptoms: √ Fever (38°C/100.4°F or higher) √ Flu like symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, temperature or aches and pains) √ Diarrhoea, stomach pains If
any of these symptoms occur while you are in contact with birds, and for up to
seven days following last contact, tell the public health doctor without delay,
using the contact details provided by him/her.
Avoid contact with others until the public health doctor has assessed
your condition (3) Get vaccinated against seasonal flu (regular flu vaccine If you are not already vaccinated against ordinary flu, you should get this year’s flu vaccine as soon as possible. This will stop you catching human flu, and stops you from having human and bird flu at the same time. Having bird flu and human flu together could lead to changes (mutations) in the bird flu virus to become more infectious for humans. Public health doctors in your areas will arrange the vaccination. (4) Wash your hands frequently Always wash your hands with soap and water after any contact with poultry, manure or contaminated surfaces. Hand washing is one of the most important protections against bird flu, and should be carried out frequently with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes nose or mouth with your hands.
(5) Avoid contact with potentially
infected poultry or manure Reduce the amount of time that you spend in close contact with potentially infected poultry or manure. Close contact means direct handling, or sharing the same confined airspace as the birds or manure. Elderly people, children, people with chronic medical conditions or weakened immunity or flu like symptoms, should all avoid any contact with potentially infected poultry or manure. If a farm is infected with bird flu, only persons authorized by the Department of Agriculture and Food may come into close contact with potentially infected poultry or manure. They can do so only by complying with requirements laid down by the Department of Agriculture. If I live in an affected area but haven't
been identified as a contact, what should I do?
If you are assessed and found not to
have close contact with infected or ill birds with bird flu, or their manure,
then no other action is needed except to watch out for flu like symptoms (cough,
runny nose, sore throat, temperature or aches and pains) and seek
immediate medical care if they occur
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