What is Avian Influenza?
Avian Influenza is a viral disease that affects birds, but can infect humans and some other animals. It spreads quickly among flocks of poultry; three million fowl died in a 3-day epidemic in Hong Kong. Humans can only get the current strains of the disease from birds or animals, but it causes a serious illness and about half the people who get it die. It could cause a pandemic (worldwide or multi-continent epidemic) if the virus mutates and becomes able to spread from human to human. It would be a new disease that most people have never had before and there is no human vaccine yet, so millions of people could die worldwide. Because of this, it is very important to control the disease in poultry.
How to Avoid Avian Influenza at Home
- Be careful of poultry carcasses from the market. Wash with soap each time you touch or prepare poultry meat for cooking. Duck meat is especially dangerous. Use a cutting board that is only for raw meat.
- Be careful with eggs. Wash them well before boiling. Wash your hands with soap after touching or breaking eggs.
- Cook poultry very well. Even a little red blood can make you sick.
- Put cooked meat on a clean plate. Do not use a plate that raw meat was on until it has been washed and dried.
- Wash everything that contacted raw meat, like knives, cutting boards, counters, and pans with soap and dry it well before using it again.
- Infected poultry and eggs should not be sold in the market. Watch out for people who butcher sick animals and sell them just so they don’t lose money.
- If Avian Influenza is in your area avoid going to gatherings of people. People may spread the disease even before they begin to feel sick.
- If you get sick with fever and a cold seek medical help immediately.
- You should cover your mouth and nose with a cloth or your hand any time you cough or sneeze.
- All family members of someone who gets sick should stay at home for 10 days to prevent spreading sickness to other people.
- Protect yourself with a mask, gloves and careful washing whenever you help someone with Avian Influenza.
For more information log onto these websites:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm; http://www.sil.org/literacy/materials/health/avian_flu/factsheet.htm