INDEPTH: AVIAN FLU
Answers to your questions about bird flu
CBC News Online | March 30, 2006
We asked for your questions about the avian influenza and we received a lot. Many people were curious about one particular strain of bird flu – H5N1, which has killed more than 100 people and led to the cull of millions of birds worldwide. We've tried to answer most of the queries below, with the help of Dr. Dalius Briedis, director of clinical infectious diseases at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal.
Are people with pet birds more susceptible to bird flu?
- Asked by Bill Greene
No.
The H5N1 bird flu has so far been found on only three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. There haven't been any cases so far in the Americas, though it is likely that migratory wild birds will bring it to North America within the next three to 12 months. A pet bird would only catch the virus if it were exposed to infected ones. Most do not get this kind of exposure and therefore aren't likely to be infected. Owners should be careful not to expose their pets to wild birds or their droppings. For example, they should avoid leaving cages in backyards or patios.
Human cases of avian flu have been infrequent and likely linking to inhaling significant amounts of wet or dry droppings from infected birds. So far, 99.99 per cent of humans working with infected birds have not been infected.
Can seagulls and pigeons become infected with H5N1?
- Asked by Petar Radulovi
Yes. Seagulls are more likely to become infected, since the virus is in bird poop that is dispersed in water and ingested by waterfowl.
Will Canada vaccinate all its poultry against H5N1 if the virus is detected in the country?
- Asked by Petar Radulovi
This is very expensive and government has not yet decided.
How does mutation affect the spreading of bird flu?
- Asked by Georgina McKenzie, New South Wales, Australia
The virus has already mutated to allow it to spread easily among birds and cause disease in humans. The virus has not yet mutated to allow it to spread easily among humans. It isn't clear how likely this is to happen.
How does the bird flu invade the body?
- Asked by Georgina McKenzie, New South Wales, Australia
It gets in when someone inhales or ingests bird poop. So far, it appears that a large amount of the bird poop must penetrate very deeply into a human lung to cause disease. Simply getting a small amount into the throat or nose appears not to be a significant risk for developing illness.
Are other domestic animals a risk to catch or spread avian flu? Will mice become susceptible to this flu bug and pass it on to the people whose houses they invade?
- Asked by several people, including Charlie Lacaille, Fitzroy Harbour, Ont. and Christina Nyren, Sweden
The virus has spread infrequently to and among felids (feline species including domestic cats and tigers in Vietnam). There have been no documented cases of it leaping from felids to people. There is very low risk to people in North America even if the bird flu arrives here, but pet owners might wish to avoid all potential risk by keeping kitty indoors. Dogs are not susceptible to avian flu.
Rodents can catch bird flu, but it is their respiratory secretions that transfer the virus. People rarely ever get close enough to mice or rats to inhale their sneezes! There's never been a documented case of bird flu among ruminants such as cows, sheep, goats, deer, elk and moose. However, pigs are potentially susceptible. Keep away from sneezing hogs: an adult hog can disperse up to a half-litre of nasal secretion in a single sneeze – and that 'snot funny!
Dr. Dalius Briedis is director of clinical infectious diseases at the Royal Victoria Hospital, associate professor of microbiology and immunology and a researcher in molecular virology at McGill University in Montreal.
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| PREVENTING THE FLU |
What you can do:
- Get a flu shot. There is no vaccine for avian flu but it may boost your overall immunity, health officials say.
- Wash your hands to wash away the flu virus
- Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough
- Stay home if you are sick.
- More on what you can do here
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| QUICK FACTS: |
Definition:
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Bird flu is an infection caused by avian influenza viruses. (Source: CDC)
Symptoms of flu/avian flu:
Fever, fatigue, cough, sore throat, eye infections, muscle aches.
Transmission:
Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Avian flu may have passed to humans by contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. In human-to-human cases, flu viruses spread in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. (CDC)
Prevention:
Get a seasonal flu shot, wash your hands, cover your mouth when sneezing, stay home if you are sick, consult your doctor.
Avian flu vaccine:
It is under development but cannot be finalized until the pandemic version of the virus appears.
Cure: A healthy body's immune system can often combat the flu. Antiviral drugs may help. Antibacterials are ineffective because the flu is a virus.
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| VACCINE & ANTIVIRALS: |
DEFINITION
Vaccines and antivirals are different. A vaccine is designed to procure immunity from a disease.
An antiviral drug is commonly used to treat an existing illness. Antivirals can also be used in a preventive way, but they are not vaccines, and do not provide immunity.
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