Avian Flu: Useful Information
Avian influenza, or "bird flu", is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. These viruses are highly species-specific, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the widespread persistence of the virus in poultry populations poses two main risks for human health. The first of these is the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from poultry to humans, resulting in very severe disease with rapid deterioration and high fatality. In the current outbreak, more than half of those infected with the virus have died, with most cases having occurred in previously healthy children and young adults. A second risk is that the virus will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person. Such a change could mark the start of a global outbreak, or a pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of its citizens, has developed PandemicFlu.gov, a website intended to provide comprehensive government-wide information on pandemic and avian influenza and serve as the authoritative site for U.S. government information in the event of a pandemic. Included in this site is useful information regarding individual and family preparedness, which can be found by clicking here.
For more information about avian influenza worldwide, including frequently asked questions, please the visit the websites of the WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.