| GENERAL
QUESTIONS
- What
is pandemic influenza?
- Why
is pandemic influenza so serious?
- Why
does the current avian/bird flu outbreak in other parts of the
world post a risk of causing a pandemic influenza outbreak in
humans?
- What
can the public do to reduce their risk of pandemic influenza?
- I
live near people who keep chickens and other poultry. Am I safe?
- I
have a small flock of chickens in my backyard. Are there any special
precautions I should take to keep them from getting bird flu?
ANSWERS
TO GENERAL QUESTIONS
1. What
is pandemic influenza?
|
Influenza
viruses cause infections of the respiratory tract (breathing
tubes and lungs). In some person, complications of influenza
can be severe, including pneumonia.
Pandemic
influenza is a global outbreak of disease from a new influenza
A virus that is unlike past influenza viruses. Because people
have not been infected with a similar virus in the past, most
or all people will not have any natural immunity immunity
(protection) to a new pandemic virus. |
2. Why
is pandemic influenza so serious?
|
Because
most or all people would not have immunity to a new pandemic
virus, large numbers of persons around the world could be
infected. If the pandemic virus causes severe disease, many
people would develop serious illnesses. Some of those who
developed severe influenza would die.
Once
a pandemic virus develops, it can spread rapidly causing outbreaks
around the world. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) predicts that as much as 25% to 30% of the
U.S. population could be affected. In Whatcom County alone,
a severe pandemic could make 52,800 people ill. Of those,
it is estimated that 25,520 would need outpatient care, over
440 would need hospitalization, and 223 could die.
High
levels of illness and death during a pandemic could lead to
other forms of social and economic disruption. With so many
people in so many places becoming ill, caring for the ill,
and looking after their children at home, the available workforce
will be reduced. Impacts of a pandemic on everyday life may
include school and business closures, the interruption of
basic services such as public transportation and food delivery,
and cancellation of large public gatherings.
|
3. Why
does the current avian/bird flu outbreak in other parts of the world
post a risk of causing a pandemic influenza outbreak in humans?
| New human influenza
viruses arise from bird influenza viruses that then change to
a form that can infect humans and spread readily from person
to person. The current bird flu outbreak in Asia is caused by
a type of influenza A virus called “H5N1.” The H5N1 outbreak
among domestic chickens and ducks in Asia is widespread and
uncontrolled. Human infections and deaths due to the avian H5N1
virus have occurred. Most of these cases involved direct or
close contact with infected birds or surfaces possibly contaminated
from feces of infected birds. However, at this time, the virus
has not developed the ability to pass easily from person to
person and cause outbreaks in humans. |
4. What
can the public do to reduce their risk of pandemic influenza?
| See INDIVIDUAL GUIDELINES
and/or BUSINESS GUIDELINES on the PANDEMIC INFLUENZA HOMEPAGE
|
5. I
live near people who keep chickens and other poultry. Am I safe?
| This does not present
a risk. At the present time, the H5N1 strain of bird flu that
has spread through poultry farms in southeast Asia and into
eastern Europe is not present in the U.S. Even if the H5N1 strain
were to appear in the U.S. , transmission from birds to people
would require close contact with birds, such as handling, butchering
or exposure to bird droppings. |
6.
I have a small flock of chickens in my backyard. Are there any special
precautions I should take to keep them from getting bird flu?
|
You should
practice good sanitation and preventive measures, such as
reducing exposure to wild birds, to guard against a variety
of diseases. Excellent information on “backyard biosecurity
for the birds” is available at: www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity/hpai.html.
If birds in your flock die unexpectedly, you can report this
to the WA State Dept. of Agriculture at (360) 902-1881 or
(360) 902-1878; testing for bird flu may be recommended.
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