With that said, there are still ten things you should be aware in regards to the avian flu.

Avian flu viruses have spread among birds throughout the world for many years and are for the most part not a threat to other birds or humans. Although it is not common for humans to catch the disease from birds, when it does happen it is typically because they have been too close to dead or dying birds or their fecal matter.

The avian flu actually results in fewer deaths than any other type of flu. Since 2003, there have only been about 151 people in the whole world who have died because of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu virus. None of these deaths occurred in the United States. However, because migrating birds are now moving South- and Westward from Russia where their summer feeding grounds are located, there is more of a chance that the virus will spread globally.

In almost all of the cases where humans have become sick due to the H5N1 virus, it has found that these individuals were in close contact with infected poultry or poultry products.

Individuals do not need to give up many of the associated bird activities that they enjoy.  It is still safe to feed wild birds, watch birds, and monitor nest boxes. People just need to keep certain safety precautions in mind. These include washing their hands properly, not touching dead birds, and staying away from birdbath water that might harbor fecal matter of potentially contaminated birds.

There are two types of the avian virus, low pathogenic and high pathogenic.

The second is more dangerous and less common. Although the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus does not easily spread from person to person, there is a risk that the virus could change and become more dangerous. However, it is not possible to know when or if this will happen.

The only known cases of humans becoming contaminated with the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus from wild birds were found in Azerbaijan. When this happened, seven people came down with disease after they de-feathered swans, four of these individuals died. Occurrences of the H5N1 virus have been found more frequently among domestic poultry than among wild birds. However, the best way for farmers to keep illness out of their flocks is to practice good bio-security, hygiene and protection measures, which should include disinfections at both the entry to and the exit from farms

Around 200 million domestic chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks have died from H5N1 infections or have been gathered to prevent the spread of illness. However, the Food Standards Agency has stated that there is no need for people to stop eating poultry or eggs, as they have not been recognized as causing the avian flu in humans.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been spotted in 45 wild bird species. Although most noted epidemics have been among waterfowl and, to a smaller degree, shorebirds and gulls.

It is possible for wild birds to carry the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus with them when they migrate. Typically though, the virus appears to have been distributed to new areas through the transportation of infected poultry and poultry products.

Washing your hands is very important, because it can prevent a variety of diseases, but it is especially effective for preventing contraction of the bird flu. Washing your hands is a must, when trying to avoid contraction of the bird flu. Hands should be washed frequently and thoroughly, which means using sop and warm water and washing for at least 20 seconds. Hands should be washed before eating, or touching the nose, eyes and mouth. If you are caring for an infected person, you’re hands should also be washed after providing care. It’s also important to wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose, coughing, or after touching used handkerchiefs or tissues. Sometimes hand washing is not possible, so in those cases, you should use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is also effective in protecting against avian flu infection. Most people will find it best to eat a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits and whole grain products. Of course, you should also include low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish and beans. When trying to avoid the avian flu, it is   important to drink lots of water, and to ease up on salt, sugar, alcohol and saturated fat. It is also important to exercise on a regular basis, and get plenty of rest. Getting a seasonal flu shot can also help protect many people from the avian flu. Although, the seasonal flu shot is only used to protect people against human influenza, it can be used to guard against avian influenza infection.

Getting a seasonal flu shot can help keep you healthy, and help your body build better immunity against the avian flu. A seasonal flu shot is also effective in protecting against seasonal human influenza. It is also advisable to get a pneumonia shot, which is effective in preventing secondary infection. People over the age of 65 or who have diabetes or asthma, should especially consider getting a pneumonia shot. Staying home when you are sick is also an effective way to protect yourself from avian flu infection, and prevent the spreading of infection. The infections of others would be greatly reduced, if more people stayed home during sickness. When you are sick, the immune system is weakened and you’re more susceptible to illness. So it is best to stay home, and try to stay healthy during sickness.

The most obvious way to avoid contraction of the bird flu virus is by avoiding contact with possibly infected animals. If it is possible, don’t handle any live poultry, and don’t live too close to animals such as chicken and pigs. Keeping your distance from these sorts of animals will ensure that you will not contract the bird flu. It’s not possible for humans to spread the bird flu to each other, so contact with infected people will be okay for most people. It is also important to cover your mouth and noses when coughing or sneezing, and to properly dispose of used tissues. Mouths and noses should be covered with a tissue, instead of a hand. If it is not possible to use a tissue to sneeze or cough into, using a sleeve may be the next best thing. After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose into a tissue, it is important to throw it into a wastebasket.

While a large number of respirators can protect poultry workers, they will not be really useful unless all of the elements of a written respiratory protection program are ensued. For example, workers should be provided with respirator training to and they should also be fit tested for tight-fitting face pieces to make certain a secure and comfortable face seal is maintained. Also, every respiratory protection program needs to have an administrator who is accountable for overseeing the program implementation and who can answer questions workers might have about using their respirator.

Any workers who are at risk of extended direct or indirect exposure to any avian influenza virus in an enclosed area should always be included in a respiratory protection program.Protection for the eyes will help to diminish direct exposure of the eyes to infected dust and aerosols. It will also aid the workers in preventing them from touching their eyes with tainted fingers. To stop the mucous membranes of the eyes from being exposed to the avian influenza virus, poultry workers should wear safety goggles or a respirator that has a complete face piece, hood, helmet, or loose-fitting face piece. If a worker wears safety goggles, they should be non-vented or, at the very least, indirectly vented.If a worker is at a lower risk of being exposed to the avian virus, they may opt to wear a good fitting indirectly vented safety goggle with an anti-fog coating. However, it is worth noting that these goggles are not airtight, and as a result, they will not totally thwart exposures to airborne material. Goggles that are directly vented and safety glasses will allow a limited amount of protection, but are not suggested for protection against fine particles, splashes, or aerosols. They will as such not be useful in situations when workers will be exposed to infected birds.

Workers who need to wear prescription lenses should wear eye protection that has the correction built into the safety lenses of the protective eyewear, has lens inserts, or can be fitted over regular glasses without compromising their eye or respiratory protection. Regular prescription glasses cannot be worn with full face-piece respirators; however, they can be worn with some kinds of powered air-purifying respirators and some styles of goggles. For goggles to be effective though, they must fit tightly. This is especially true from the corners of the eyes across the brow. Also, the protective eyewear worn should never interfere with the workers vision by upsetting the proper placement of the prescription lenses. Contact lenses are often a good option as they can be worn with goggles, safety glasses, or any respirator. This allows the worker to have the full vision they need while staying safe.

Because some goggles can change how the half- face piece respirator fits, eye protection should be fitted along with the respirator. To make sure that the eye protection will not get in the way of the face-piece seal, it should be worn when half-face piece respirators are fit tested as well as when workers carry out seal checks each time they dress in the respirator.Care should always be carried out when removing eye protection to make sure that tainted equipment does not come in contact with the eyes or other mucous membranes. When the proper eye protection is used, it will help to Eye protection that is properly selected and used will help thwart the contraction of conjunctivitis (redness, swelling and pain in the eyes and eyelids). Poultry workers who are exposed to birds infected with avian influenza should always contact their doctor at the first symptoms of conjunctivitis.

The H5N1 virus is the most dangerous of the bird flu viruses. This virus has caused the largest number of cases of severe disease and death in humans, than any other form of avian influenza. The H5N1 virus has a severe effect on humans’ respiratory systems; there is usually an aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and high fatality. The most common outcomes of the disease are viral pneumonia and multi organ failure. More than half of the humans infected with the H5N1 virus have died, and millions of infected birds have been slaughtered. Birds can easily spread the disease to healthy children and adults. Avian flu can mutate and be spread from birds to humans, but it is not able to mutate within humans and be spread human-to-human. If the disease mutates in humans, it can become even more infectious, and may cause a pandemic.

The bird flu virus has infected many people in many countries, such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, and China. The disease is usually spread to humans that have close contact with birds, and that live on farms and are often close to birds. Spreading of the infection usually occurs, when a human has direct contact with an infected bird. Contact with surfaces and objects contaminated with bird feces, is presently the main route of human infection. Opportunities for exposure to infected feces or to environments contaminated by the avian flu virus, are abundant in farm and rural conditions. Many households in Asia use poultry for income and as a source of food, and many families sell, slaughter and consume infected birds. Although this practice can cause human infection, many families in Asia are unwilling to change this. In these cases, humans will most likely be infected during slaughtering, de-feathering, butchering and preparation of poultry.

It is also possible for humans to become infected by touching surfaces that are contaminated with the saliva and nasal secretions of infected birds. Many health officials believe that people infected with the H5N1 virus, were infected through direct contact with poultry. Airborne secretions are also a means of bird flu transmission to humans. Inhalation of these types of mucus membranes is highly effective in spreading the bird flu virus from birds to humans. The transfer of eggs from infected birds also has the potential to cause transmission of the bird flu virus to humans.  Currently, it’s not very likely that human beings that don’t have close contact with birds will be infected with the virus. The bird flu virus is dangerous to humans, and humans have not built immunity to the disease yet. The virus can be spread from birds to other animals than onto humans, but it is most commonly spread from birds to humans. There is no way to stop the spreading of the disease from birds to humans, but many of the common ways of transmission can be stopped.  Fewer occurrences of the disease in human beings can happen, if humans don’t allow their birds to roam free, and if humans clean their animals’ living quarters frequently.

The term “avian flu” literally means “flu from viruses adapted to birds”.  However, it is also often incorrectly used to refer to other flu types and the viruses that caused them, or the virus itself.  All of the current known avian flu viruses are of the species Influenza A virus, of which all of the subtypes are adapted to birds.  The majority of them may be transferred to other species, but the new carrier does not actually get the disease, and so does not get the “flu”.

In current lingo, however, the bird flu has become the layman’s term for the H5N1 virus – a form of avian flu that has been known to infect humans.  For an unknown reason, this strain of the virus has evolved into a strain that is particularly infectious one.  In humans, approximately 50% of those who were infected with the virus died from it, making it a very real scare.  Currently, this particular strain is only infectious from bird to human, and not from human to human contact.  If it were to mutate to a form that made it easy to pass from one person to another, it could cause a major health crisis.

Because of all of the confusion, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published specific guidelines for defining bird flu cases in humans.  These guidelines clearly break up human cases into three categories:  people who are suspected of having the bird flu, those who have a probable infection of the bird flu, and those that have been confirmed by laboratory diagnosis to have the bird flu.  For statistical information, WHO only wants probably and confirmed cases to be reported to them, while suspected cases are useful for local governments to monitor the situation.  A confirmed case is via laboratory diagnosis.  A suspected case is based on symptoms and exposures.  Those with a probable diagnosis have a combination of preliminary tests that are positive, as well as symptoms and exposure.

Many people are still unsure of what exactly the bird flu means.  They are concerned about catching it from a neighbor with a cold, or a bird at a backyard feeder.  Misinformation can be a source of panic for the general population.

As with many diseases, the best cure is prevention.  If you work with chickens or other birds you should be extra cautious.  Avoid contact with wild birds, including ducks and other waterfowl.  Limit the number of people coming in and out of the poultries to essential personnel only.  Always use proper disinfection procedures in the poultries, and follow all regulatory hand washing and cleaning requirements.  Any unusual sickness or death among the birds should be reported to authorities, as well as any illnesses experienced by workers.

If you are going to be traveling in an area where bird flu has been diagnosed, there are some things that you can do to protect yourself as well.  Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling chicken meat or other forms of poultry.  Thoroughly clean and disinfect kitchen surfaces and utensils before and after use.  Chicken should be cooked thoroughly at a boiling temperature.  Do not buy or sell live chickens in a market where there is a threat of the bird flu.  If you keep chickens as pets or a food source, do not allow them to roam freely.  Avoid wild birds.  Any unusual deaths or sickness among birds should be reported to authorities, as well as any respiratory illness in a person who has been exposed to dead or sick birds.

Since 2003 151 people have died worldwide from this virus; and though tragic this is not a large death count, as a comparison, between 33,000 and 36,000 people die each year in the United States alone from complications caused by other kinds of flu. Notably, the amount of deaths reported due to the avian flu is miniscule compared to the statistics surrounding “regular” flu.

Another reason why the avian flu has not had a huge impact on humans is because even if the H5N1 strain of avian flu is found in the United States, it would not be immediate cause for alarm when it comes to human health. Right now the virus is not easily transmitted from birds to humans or from one human being to another. However, there is a concern is that the virus could mutate into a form that is more dangerous to humans, but currently nosuch mutation has been detected.

Also, most agree the avian flu virus is not likely to change very quickly into a form that it can spread quickly from person to person, potentially igniting a pandemic. Acquiring this ability will require a series of genetic changes, which could make the virus less powerful.

In April of 2006 the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a statement in which they announced that the avian flu will not be the next pandemic, and is likely to have far less of an impact on humans than previously thought. The logic behind this outlook is though the disease has killed an enormous amount of birds, it has killed only about 100 people out of about 200 sickened worldwide. The victims were in intense, daily contact with sick flocks, often sharing the same living space. Only two people have ever reported becoming infected from person-to-person contact. The CDC advises that it is likely that this virus may never mutate to a form that could spread easily in humans. They did, however, encourage the continued research for a vaccine and supported the development of preparedness plans worldwide.

In addition, the impact the bird flu would have on human in the United States is likely to be less intense than it is elsewhere. According to the US governments top infectious-disease officials the spread of avian flu to the United States probably would not have the same impact it has had in less developed countries. This is because the surveillance in the United States is going to be very intense. American authorities recently unveiled a surveillance plan that includes systematic monitoring of wild birds. They expect to collect 75,000 to 100,000 samples for testing this year, mostly on the West Coast and in Alaska.

American poultry farmers keep birds isolated, reducing the potential for them to have contact with wild birds. In addition, Americans generally have less contact with poultry or their droppings. Backyard poultry is far less common in the United States than in many of the countries battling avian flu, such as Indonesia.

The biggest impact the avian flu is likely to have on humans is an economic one.  Fears of infection, whether justified or not, may have a big impact on sectors such as retail spending and tourism as people opt to stay at home.  Scared consumers might avoid shopping malls, restaurants and other public places.

AI viruses can contaminate chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, as well as a large number of other bird types. However, migratory waterfowl have shown to have a natural tank for the less contagious strains of the disease.

Low pathogenic avian influenza happens naturally in wild birds and can migrate to domestic birds. Often times, there are no symptoms that the birds are infected or at best they show signs of very minor illness. This strain of infection is of very little threat to humans.

High pathogenic avian influenza is very often deadly to chickens and turkeys. Highly pathogenic avian influenza spreads a lot faster than low pathogenic avian influenza and has a much larger mortality rate in birds.

Although low pathogenic strains characteristically cause limited or no signs in infected birds, there are still some things to watch for.  When symptoms are seen, they can include respiratory problems, diarrhea, a decline in egg production, or an increase in mortality. Under certain field conditions, some low-pathogenic strains (H5 and H7 subtypes) can transform and then become highly pathogenic. As a result, this can cause the deaths of entire flocks

The symptoms of sickness found in domestic poultry that are infected with avian influenza viruses are often inconsistent. The signs seen and how the bird reacts can depend on numerous factors such as the virus strain, age and species of infected birds, concurrent bacterial disease, and the environment. Some symptoms found in infected birds may include: a unexpected death without a noticeable cause, lack of coordination, a purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs, Soft-shelled or malformed eggs, low energy and lackluster appetite, diarrhea, swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks, discharge from the nasal passages, a decrease in the production of eggs, coughing or sneezing.

Although a bird may be very healthy looking, it can still be infected with a strain of the avian influenza virus. It is also true that the seriousness of the disease in poultry can also differ during an outbreak.

It is very important that people who work with poultry workers should always be alert and aware of signs of the disease in poultry. This way, if it becomes needed they can take instantaneous steps to protect both themselves and other workers. This may result in quarantining the farm to thwart spreading of the disease. It is also vital that workers report the disease to the appropriate animal health authorities.

It is essential that people working with poultry are very aware of the signs and symptoms of avian influenza virus infection in humans. This is vital so that actions can be taken to give immediate treatment in individuals exposed to the infection.

The signs and symptoms of infection in humans may include fever, cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis (eye infections), and muscle aches. Being infected with avian influenza viruses can also result in pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, and other severe and life-threatening complications. Anyone working with poultry who comes down with any of these symptoms or illnesses, or who might be at risk for being exposed to avian influenza virus should seek medical care. These people should also inform the healthcare provider before they go there that they may have been exposed to avian influenza virus.

Currently there are two drugs commonly used to treat seasonal influenza. These drugs are oseltamivir (commercially known as Tamiflu) and zanamivir (commercially known as Relenza). These drugs are called neuraminidase inhibitors. The efficiency of these drugs depends, among other things, on their early administration (within 48 hours after symptoms begin).

For cases where humans are infected with the bird flu, the drugs may improve prospects of survival, if administered early, but statistics surrounding the validity of that statement are limited. The H5N1 virus is expected to be susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitors. Antiviral resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors has been studied very little so far but is likely to be detected during widespread use during a pandemic.

There is also research into antiviral medications that can effectively reduce the harshness of an influenza attack. Recent increases in the number and promotion of antiviral drugs for influenza have increased interest in the role of specific antiviral drugs for this condition. However, these antiviral drugs will also not work on avian influenza.

An older class of antiviral drugs, the M2 inhibitors amantadine and rimantadine, could possibly be used against avian influenza, but resistance to these drugs can develop rapidly and this could significantly limit their effectiveness against pandemic influenza. Some strains of the bird flu are already fully resistant to these the M2 inhibitors. However, should a new virus emerge the M2 inhibitors might be effective

Although a vaccine against the H5N1 virus known as the bird flu is under development in several countries, no vaccine is ready for commercial production and no vaccines are expected to be widely available until several months after the start of a pandemic. This means an outbreak would have to already be in progress before a vaccine would be widely available to the public.

Furthermore, the most fatal pneumonia seen in cases of the bird flu has resulted from the effects of the virus, and cannot be treated with antibiotics. Nonetheless, since influenza is often complicated by secondary bacterial infection of the lungs, antibiotics could be life-saving in the case of late-onset pneumonia. Therefore, it is sensible for countries to ensure adequate supplies of antibiotics in advance.

Some clinical trials have already begun to test whether experimental vaccines will be able to fully protect against the virus and to determine whether using different variations of the formula can economize the amount of antigen required, therefore boosting production capacity and making it more affordable to produce. Because the vaccine needs to closely match the pandemic virus, large-scale commercial production will not start until the new virus has emerged and a pandemic has been declared. Current global production capacity falls far short of the demand expected during a pandemic. This means that currently we do not have the resources available to create a vaccine to all who would need it if an outbreak occurred. However, much is being done to hasten the research being done on the bird flu and its possible vaccines.

In February 2006, President Bush approved an extraordinary amount of funds to support vaccine research, development, and procurement. That funding will support research on more resourceful ways to produce vaccine as well as ways to extend a given supply of vaccine to all who need it.

Treatment for the bird flu is most effective when it begins within two days of the onset of symptoms.  There is a much higher fatality rate from the disease with patients who waited to go into the hospital, despite having a fever and respiratory distress.

The basic treatment for the bird flu is the same as it is for other influenza viruses.  Sometimes antiviral drugs are effective for both treatment and prevention, though there are strains of the bird flu that are drug resistant.  The drugs are also expensive and in limited supply.  There is no vaccine available against a strain of the bird flu that can be transmitted to humans, so those who work with poultry birds are encouraged to prevent the flu virus from combining with another form of flu virus and mutating.

Tamiflu is the main drug used in the treatment of bird flu. In order to be most effective, it needs to be started within 24 hours of bird flu being diagnosed and any delays lessen the effectiveness of the drug’s ability to work. Tamiflu is not the same thing as a flu vaccine, nor should it be used to replace the vaccine.  It is designed to weaken the symptoms, which can speed up recovery and offer a better chance of survival from the disease.  It blocks a specific enzyme that helps the virus spread from infected cells to healthy ones.

As with many diseases, the best cure is prevention.  If you work with chickens or other birds, you should be extra cautious.  Avoid contact with wild birds, including ducks and other waterfowl.  Limit the number of people coming in and out of the poultries to essential personnel only.  Always use proper disinfectant procedures in the poultries, and follow all regulatory hand washing and cleaning requirements.  Any unusual sickness or death among the birds should be reported to authorities, as well as any illnesses experienced by workers.

If you are going to be traveling in an area where bird flu has been diagnosed, there are some things that you can do to protect yourself as well.  Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling chicken meat or other forms of poultry.  Thoroughly clean and disinfect kitchen surfaces and utensils before and after use.  Chicken should be cooked thoroughly at a boiling temperature.  Do not buy or sell live chickens in a market where there is a threat of the bird flu.  If you keep chickens as pets or a food source, do not allow them to roam freely.  Avoid wild birds.  Any unusual deaths or sickness among birds should be reported to authorities, as well as any respiratory illness in a person who has been exposed to dead or sick birds.

Following basic health practices will help to protect you should a pandemic situation occur.  Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, particularly before you eat and after close contact with strangers or animals.  If soap and water are not readily available, consider carrying a bottle of waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizer for in between washings.  Cover your nose and mouth whenever you need to cough or sneeze.  Avoid crowds as much as possible, particularly those in close confines such as a plane or subway.  Get all illnesses looked at by a doctor, and if you are sick, do everyone else the courtesy of staying home.  Follow all vaccination schedules as recommended by your local health department.

Some people suffering from this virus may have the feeling of being pinned down during the initial hours of rapidly appearing symptoms. This usually occurs within two to four days of incubation. Infected people usually experience a high fever on the first day, but the fever usually subsides on the second and third day. If a person is suffering from a severe case of avian influenza, then the fever may spike on the third and fourth day. Infected persons may also develop chills, headaches and sweating before or accompanying the fever. A sore throat is another common symptom of the bird flu, which is usually described as a burning sensation by many patients.

A dry cough also develops at the onset of the illness. Sub-sternal soreness, photophobia, and ocular problems are also symptoms of this influenza virus. When severe sub-sternal problems occur, it usually points toward the primary involvement of the trachea. Some other symptoms of the virus are prolonged fatigue, weakness, diarrhea and nausea. When malaise occurs, it is usually severe and persistent. It is also possible for myalgia to occur, which usually occurs in the back and the extremities, and is related to the severity of the fever. The constitutional symptoms of avian flu will be more severe in the beginning, and will slowly be overtaken by respiratory symptoms. Nausea and diarrhea symptoms will be more severe and will occur more frequently in virus cases of children. Children’s maximum temperature may also be higher than adults, which can indicate febrile convulsions.

Other symptoms of avian flu also include eye infections (conjunctivitis), severe pneumonia, viral pneumonia, acute respiratory disorder and other complications. The symptoms of avian flu may often depend on what type of virus caused the infection. The symptoms of bird flu will usually persist as the human symptoms of the human flu persist. The symptoms will usually persist for four to five days, and most patients must be hospitalized for their infections. If there is a possibility that someone has the bird flu, they should consult a doctor as soon as the symptoms occur. Most bird flu patients recover, but there are many patients that do not survive the deadly H5N1 virus. There are many forms of the avian flu virus, and their symptoms may vary, but the symptoms of human flu are usually evident in all of the viruses.

Patients can recover from some forms of the bird flu, by being under constant care and taking antibiotics. However, there is not a combative drug to prevent the disease. If the avian flu becomes a pandemic, humans will most likely not have immunity to fight off the fatal effect of the disease. There is not a vaccine to protect humans from the pandemic avian influenza virus, because the pandemic has not fully developed. Humans may contract the disease, but it cannot be spread from human-to-human. However, an effort to find a vaccine for the avian flu pandemic has started in countries, such as America and Asia.