MU Environmental Health and Safety: Pandemic Flu FAQ

Pandemic Flu Frequently Asked Questions

1. Flu Terms Defined
2. What is an Influenza Pandemic?
3. Does the current seasonal influenza vaccine protect me from avian influenza?
4. What are pandemic alert phases and what phase are we in?
5. What age groups are most likely to be affected during an influenza pandemic?
6. How do people become infected with avian influenza viruses?
7. Is there a risk for becoming infected with avian influenza by eating poultry?
8. What are the symptoms of avian influenza in humans?
9. Are my pets at risk from this new H5N1 strain on avian influenza?
10. What precautions should I take if I visit an area affected by H5N1 avian influenza?
11. Should I begin taking antiviral medications such as Tamiflu® if I'm planning a visit to another country known to have avian flu?
12. What precautions can be taken to reduce the risk from infection from wild birds in the United States?

1. Flu Terms Defined

Seasonal (or common) flu: is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.
Avian (or bird) flu: is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available.
Pandemic flu: is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu.

2. What is an influenza pandemic?

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness, and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide.

3. Does the current seasonal influenza vaccine protect me from avian influenza?

No. Influenza vaccine for the 2005-06 season does not provide protection against avian influenza.

4. What are pandemic alert phases and what phase are we in?

The World Health Organization (WHO) developed an alert system to help inform the world about the seriousness of a pandemic. The alert system has six phases, with Phase 1 having the lowest risk of human cases and Phase 6 posing the greatest risk of pandemic.

The world is presently in Phase 3 of the Pandemic Alert. This means that there is a new influenza virus subtype causing disease in humans, but is not yet spreading in an efficient (easily transmittable) and sustainable manner among humans.

5. What age groups are most likely to be affected during an influenza pandemic?

Although scientists cannot predict the specific consequences of an influenza pandemic, it is likely that many age groups would be seriously affected. The greatest risk of hospitalization and death – as seen during the last two pandemics in 1957 and 1968 and during annual influenza – will be infants, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions. However, in the 1918 pandemic, most deaths occurred in young adults. Few if any people would have immunity to the virus.

6. How do people become infected with avian influenza viruses?

Most cases of H5N1 avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces possibly contaminated from feces of infected birds. For a pandemic of influenza to occur, avian influenza must mutate/change to be able to be passed easily from person to person. A pandemic of influenza can arise from changes that occur in certain kinds of highly pathogenic bird flu but no one knows when or even if this will happen. Today, there have been no reported cases of sustained human-to-human transmission of avian flu.

7. Is there a risk for becoming infected with avian influenza by eating poultry?

There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry can be a source of infection for avian influenza viruses. Furthermore, the likelihood of infected poultry entering the U.S. food supply is extremely low due to import restrictions, extensive avian influenza testing programs, and federal inspection programs. Even if it did, properly prepared and cooked poultry is safe to eat. Cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills the avian influenza virus as it does other bacteria and viruses. While most human illnesses have resulted from direct contact with sick or dead birds, a small number have resulted from eating raw poultry or poultry products so proper cooking is important if there is a concern that the avian influenza virus might be present. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises that cooking poultry to the proper temperature and preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked food is the key to food safety. Consumers are reminded to:

Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.
Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw poultry, meat, and fish and their juices away from other foods.
After cutting raw meat, wash cutting board, knife, and countertops with hot, soapy water.
Sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water; and
Use a food thermometer to ensure poultry has reached the safe internal temperature of at least 165 °F to kill food borne germs that might be present, including the avian influenza virus.

8. What are the symptoms of avian influenza in humans?

People infected with the current strand of the avian virus (H5N1) have shown everything from typical human influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other life-threatening complications. Symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which specific virus subtype and strain caused the infection.

9. Are my pets at risk from this new H5N1 strain of avian influenza?

There have been reports in Europe of domestic cats becoming infected with this new strain of H5N1 avian influenza. As a general rule, pet owners should take steps to insure that pets do not interact with wildlife. This protects both wildlife and pets.

10. What precautions should I take if I visit in an area affected by H5N1 avian influenza?

A map showing Nations with Confirmed Cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza can be found here.

Avoid contact with live birds, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, and their feces, feathers, and pens if at all possible. Children, in particular, should be warned and precautions enforced.
Pet birds should not be kept.
If preparing poultry, cook it well done before eating.
Avoid cross contamination of other foods by use of separate kitchen utensils and surfaces exposed to raw poultry.
Wash hands with soap and water after any poultry contact.
Be sure, if possible, that poultry does not live near your housing area.
Do not transport live or dead poultry even if it appears to be healthy.
Avoid poultry products from areas of infected birds.
If you must travel to infected areas and work directly with infected birds, poultry or humans, hand washing and shoe and clothing cleaning should be an immediate priority.
Be sure to wear gloves, a special N-95 mask, goggles, and a disposable gown if you must be in contact with the birds/poultry in enclosed environments where aerosolization of the small virus particles may occur.
Observe yourself for the development of any respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms after the visit and check your temperature for a week afterwards, and contact a physician if you have any questions.

11. Should I begin taking antiviral medications such as Tamiflu® if I'm planning a visit to another country known to have avian flu?

No, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically states at this time persons traveling to countries with avian influenza cases in birds, poultry, or humans do not need to take Tamiflu® prophylactically. If you become ill in any way while in the country, you should seek medical advice immediately. Travelers to any country that has reported cases of H5N1 among birds or humans should consider scheduling an appointment with their health care provider before traveling to discuss risks for potential exposure to H5N1. Only you and your health care provider can determine that risk and what the most appropriate precautions are for you.

12. What precautions can be taken to reduce the risk from infection from wild birds in the United States?

At present, there are no documented cases of human H5N1 infection caused by contact with live wild birds. As a general rule, however, the public should observe wildlife, including wild birds, from a distance. This protects you from possible exposure to pathogens and minimizes disturbance to the animal.

Avoid touching wildlife. If there is contact with wildlife do not rub eyes, eat, drink, or smoke before washing hands with soap and water.
Do not pick up diseased or dead wildlife.
Contact your state, tribal, or federal natural resource agency if sick or dead animals are found.
If you must dispose of a dead bird, pick it up with an inverted bag or disposable glove; place the bird in another bag and dispose of it in the trash. Trash receptacles should be secured so that children pets and animals do not have access to them.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Some of the information on this page was taken from Questions and Answers: PandemicFlu.gov (2006).

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