What is avian flu?

Avian flu (also called avian influenza or bird flu) is a contagious infection that comes from a virus. There are many different strains (types) of avian flu. Avian flu can infect all kinds of birds and other animals. Some types of avian flu can also infect humans.

Why is there concern over the new strain of avian flu, H5N1?

Lately, a particular strain of avian flu, the H5N1 strain, has caused serious sickness (and in some cases, death) in humans. Many public health officials and researchers are worried about H5N1 strain because it mutates (changes) quickly by "borrowing" genes from other viruses. This makes it hard for health officials to contain the virus or make a vaccine that protects against it.

Where have there been recent human cases of avian flu H5N1?

So far, this strain of avian flu has infected humans in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

How many people have been infected by this new strain H5N1?

The World Health Organization tracks the number of confirmed avian flu cases in humans. Their website reports the latest number of cases..

How is avian flu H5N1 transmitted from birds to humans?

Most of the people infected by H5N1 avian flu caught it from working closely with live infected birds. The virus is found in infected bird's droppings, saliva, etc.

What about human-to-human transmission?

The Public Health Agency of Canada "reports that limited, inefficient human-to-human transmission is suspected in some cases" of avian flu. In these rare cases, people seem to have caught the avian flu virus from an infected relative after having face-to-face contact with the relative over a long period of time. There is no evidence of other kinds of human-to-human transmission (for example, of catching the virus from strangers on the street).

What are the symptoms of avian flu in humans (flu strain H5N1)?

The symptoms of avian flu H5N1 in humans are similar to symptoms of other flu viruses: fever, tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat and cough. In severe cases, people with avian flu have trouble breathing, develop pneumonia, and may die.

What should I know if I'm travelling to Asia?

The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued a travel health advisory for anyone visiting Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Japan, Indonesia, and Laos, where avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks have been reported. Travellers should also make sure they get a regular flu shot from their family doctor before they leave, and also ask their doctor for an individual risk assessment. Travelers are advised to avoid unnecessary contact with live birds. This means avoiding poultry farms and markets where live animals such as chickens and ducks are sold.

Is it safe to eat chicken, eggs and fowl (birds)?

To date, there has been no evidence that the avian flu virus can be caught by people eating contaminated food. However, people travelling to Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Japan, Indonesia, and Laos should take certain precautions, just in case. Travellers to these countries should not eat undercooked fowl (birds), raw eggs, or lightly cooked egg products (like runny eggs). Travelers should make sure that whatever bird and egg products they eat are well cooked all the way through.