Is bird flu (or avian flu) the same thing as pandemic flu?
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No. Pandemic flu is a global outbreak of human disease. It is caused by a new influenza virus that is unlike any previous flu, so people will not have any natural immunity to it. The lack of immunity means that a pandemic flu can pass readily from person to person, creating widespread illness. Currently, there is no pandemic flu circulating.
Bird flu (or avian influenza) refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily affect birds. On rare occasions, these bird viruses can infect other species, including pigs and humans, but the vast majority of avian flu viruses do not infect people.
The current bird flu outbreak in many parts of the world is caused by a type of influenza virus called “H5N1.” H5N1 is already spreading widely in global bird populations. In a very small number of cases, it has passed from birds to humans--generally through direct contact with infected birds—and in a handful of cases, it has passed from human to human. In the few instances of avian flu in humans, it has been deadly, killing nearly half of those infected. However, H5N1 remains a bird flu because it has not developed the ability to pass easily from person to person. If this change occurs, H5N1 will become a human influenza virus that could start a pandemic—and that’s what worries health experts.
If I feel “fluish,” should I ask my doctor to perform a particular test to check for the bird flu virus?
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Only if you have a recently returned from travel to an area where bird flu is present. Depending on your symptoms, dates of travel, and activities, additional testing might be recommended. Let you healthcare provider know about your travel history and if you had contact with poultry or bird markets.
Is it safe to eat chicken, poultry, and eggs?
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Yes, eating properly cooked poultry, as well as eggs, is safe. The U.S. government has banned imported poultry from countries affected by bird flu. At the present time, bird flu is not present in the U.S.
For protection against many types of food borne diseases, such as Salmonella, all poultry should be cooked to 165º F or hotter. Cooking also destroys flu viruses. Eggs from infected poultry could be contaminated with the virus, so avoid eating raw or lightly cooked eggs in such foods as raw cookie dough, homemade mayonnaise, and dressings made with raw eggs. For more information on safe food preparations, visit Public Health’s web site at www.metrokc.gov/health/foodsfty/foodtemps.htm
