Download Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza
Health Emergency Alert Response Team
Ellis County Homeland Security
Covered Topics
• What is avian influenza?
• Avian influenza and humans
• Symptoms of avian influenza
• Avian influenza treatment
• Avian influenza and Pandemic influenza
• Prevention of Avian or Pandemic Influenza
• Home Care for Avian or Pandemic Influenza
• Denton County Preparedness
• Personal Preparedness
Avian influenza
• “Bird flu”
• Occurs naturally in birds
• Wild birds carry the viruses in
their intestines, but don’t usually
get sick.
• Can make chickens, ducks, and
turkeys very sick and kill them.
• It is very contagious to birds
Avian Influenza A H5N1 virus
• A type of influenza that
occurs mainly in birds
• Outbreaks have occurred
in poultry in Asian
countries.
• Humans have gotten sick
in many Eastern Asian
countries.
• This is the type of flu that
many scientists are
watching for a possible
worldwide outbreak
Spread of Avian Influenza
• Migratory birds pass it on to each other.
• Infected birds shed the virus and susceptible birds become
infected.
• Poultry become infected by the migratory birds or by other
poultry.
• Humans become infected by infected poultry or contaminated
surfaces.
• If avian flu becomes contagious between people, it will be
spread like other flu viruses.
• Flu viruses are spread when contaminated droplets exit the
mouth or nose of an infected person and the virus comes in
contact with others.
Bird flu human infection
• Avian influenza (bird flu) viruses usually do not make humans
sick.
• Avian influenza does not spread easily from bird to humans.
• Avian Influenza H5N1 is the kind of bird flu that has made
some people sick in Asia.
• As of October 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO)
reports 117 confirmed cases of H5N1 bird flu in humans.
• Sixty of those 117 people died.
• Most people got sick because of contact with sick poultry
(chickens, ducks, turkeys) or by touching contaminated
surfaces.
• There is no evidence that H5N1 can spread from person to
person.
Avian Influenza Symptoms in Humans
• Symptoms may vary depending on
the type
• Typical flu like symptoms
–
–
–
–
–
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Cough
Sore throat
• Eye Infections
• Pneumonia
• Acute respiratory distress
Treatment for Avian Influenza
• The same medication used for regular seasonal
flu may work for bird flu infections in humans.
• Check with a physician about specific treatment
plans.
U.S. Outbreak Risk
• The current risk in the United States is low.
• The H5N1 virus has not been found in the U.S. and
there have been no human cases.
• It is possible for travelers to countries in Asia to
become infected.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends that travelers to countries in Asia
with known outbreaks of H5N1 influenza avoid
poultry farms, contact with animals in live food
markets, and any surface that appears to be
contaminated with poultry or animal feces.
Before you travel to an affected area…
• Visit CDC's Travelers' Health website on Southeast Asia at
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/seasia.htm to educate yourself and others who may be
traveling with you about any disease risks and CDC health recommendations for
international travel in areas you plan to visit. For other information about avian
influenza, see this website: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm.
• Be sure you are up to date with all your vaccinations, and see your doctor or
health-care provider, ideally 4-6 weeks before travel, to get any additional
vaccination medications or information you may need.
• Assemble a travel health kit containing basic first aid and medical supplies. Be
sure to include a thermometer and alcohol-based hand gel for hand hygiene. See
the Travelers Health Kit page in Health Information for International Travel for
other suggested items.
• Identify in-country health-care resources in advance of your trip.
• Check your health insurance plan or get additional insurance that covers medical
evacuation in case you become sick. Information about medical evacuation
services is provided on the U.S. Department of State web page Medical
Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html.
During travel to an affected area…
• Avoid all direct contact with poultry, including touching well-appearing,
sick, or dead chickens and ducks. Avoid places such as poultry farms and
bird markets where live poultry are raised or kept, and avoid handling
surfaces contaminated with poultry feces or secretions.
• As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important preventive
practices is careful and frequent hand washing. Cleaning your hands often
with soap and water removes potentially infectious material from your
skin and helps prevent disease transmission. Waterless alcohol-based
hand gels may be used when soap is not available and hands are not
visibly soiled.
• Influenza viruses are destroyed by heat; therefore, as a precaution, all
foods from poultry, including eggs and poultry blood, should be
thoroughly cooked.
• If you become sick with symptoms such as a fever, difficulty breathing, or
cough, or with any illness that requires prompt medical attention, a U.S.
consular officer can assist you in locating medical services and informing
your family or friends. Inform your health care provider of any possible
exposures to avian influenza. You should defer further travel until you are
free of symptoms, unless your travel is health-related.
After you return from an affected area…
• Monitor your health for 10 days.
• If you become ill with fever and develop a cough, sore
throat, or difficulty breathing or if you develop any
illness with fever during this 10-day period, consult a
health-care provider. Before you visit a health-care
setting, tell the provider the following: 1) your
symptoms, 2) where you traveled, and 3) if you have
had direct contact with poultry. This way, he or she
can be aware that you have traveled to an area
reporting avian influenza.
• Do not travel while ill, unless you are seeking medical
care. Limiting contact with others as much as possible
can help prevent the spread of an infectious illness.
Nations With Confirmed Cases
H5N1 Avian Influenza (July 7, 2006)
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pandemic Influenza website,
www.pandemicflu.gov
National Avian Influenza Surveillance Information
Birds Tested by State in the 2006 Sampling Season
• Surveillance
News:
– Test results for
11801 samples
have been
entered into
HEDDS as of
August 25, 2006
Information courtesy of National HPAI Early Detection Data
System (HEDDS)
– Highly
pathogenic
H5N1 avian
influenza virus
has NOT been
detected in these
samples
Pandemic vs. Avian Influenza
• Avian influenza is only referring to influenza strains that usually
affect birds.
• Avian influenza viruses can mutate to become infectious to
humans (as in the case with H5N1)
• Avian influenza has not yet shown the ability to be contagious in
humans.
• If Avian influenza develops that ability, it could turn into
pandemic influenza.
• An influenza pandemic is caused by humans becoming infected
by a new strain of influenza that they have little or no immunity
for.
• Since their immune systems do not have the capacity to fight off
infection, people often become sicker, quicker.
• If Avian influenza becomes contagious, it could easily turn into
pandemic influenza.
Past Influenza Pandemics
• 3 in the last century
• “Spanish influenza”
– 1918
– 40-50 million people died worldwide
– One of the deadliest outbreaks in human history
• “Asian influenza”
– 1957
– 2 million people died worldwide
• “Hong Kong influenza”
– 1968
– 1 million people died worldwide
What if Avian Influenza starts to make
Americans sick?
• Use good hygiene practices.
– If you have contact with a sick person or animal, birds included,
wash your hands.
– Clean any surfaces where poultry has been.
• If you or one of your family members feels sick and has a
fever, keep that family member home.
• If you or one of your family members gets bird flu, you will
be asked to stay at home and the health department will call
you everyday to check your temperature and symptoms.
• If you are too sick to stay at home, go to your nearest
hospital.
What if Avian Influenza starts to make
Americans sick? (continued)
• To control the spread of the bird flu from
person to person
– People may be asked to stay at home.
– Large events where people would gather (such as
concerts or festivals) may be cancelled.
– Movement from home out to the public (such as
going shopping) may be restricted.
– Schools may be closed
– Quarantine and Isolation
Preventing Pandemic Flu
• Practice healthy habits to keep you and others
from getting and passing on the virus.
– Clean your hands often with soap and water or alcohol
based hand sanitizer
– Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you
cough or sneeze and clean your hands afterward. Put
used tissues in a trashcan.
– Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don’t
have a tissue.
– Keep your hands away from eyes, nose and mouth to
prevent germs from getting into your body.
Practice Correct Hand washing
•
•
•
•
•
1. Wet hands with warm running water.
2. Add soap, then rub hands together to make a soapy
lather. Make sure to wash the front and back of your
hands, nails and nail beds, wrists, and between fingers.
3. Wash hands for 20 seconds or the length of singing
“Happy Birthday”.
4. Rinse hands with warm running water with your hands
pointed down.
5. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel and use that
towel to turn off the water and open the door.
Preventing the Spread of Pandemic Flu
• A person with signs of flu should:
– Stay home from work, school and errands and
avoid contact with others.
– Consider wearing a surgical mask when around
others.
When a Household Member Is Sick
• Keep everyone’s personal items separate and avoid
sharing personal items.
• Disinfect door knobs, switches, handles, toys and
other commonly touched surfaces.
• Wash clothes with detergent and very hot water. Wash
your hands after handling dirty laundry.
• Wear disposable gloves when in contact with or
cleaning up body fluids.
• One person should be the caregiver. He or she may
benefit by wearing a mask when giving care.
Disinfectant:
•1 gallon water
•¼ cup bleach
•Mix up a fresh batch every time you use it.
Care for Someone with Flu
• A person recovering from flu should have:
– Rest and plenty of liquids
– No alcohol or tobacco
– Medication to relieve flue symptoms
• In some cases, a health care professional may
prescribe antiviral medications to treat the flu.
Antibiotics don’t cure it.
Monitor Pandemic Flu Symptoms
• Keep a care log with date, time, fever, symptoms, medicine
given and dosage. Update every 4 hours or when symptoms
change.
• Call a health care provider again if the person has:
–
–
–
–
–
High fever
Shaking chills
Coughing that produces thick mucus
Dehydration
If existing conditions (such as heart disease or diabetes) become worse
• If you cannot reach a health care provider, call 9-1-1 if the
person has any signs below:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Irritability and/or confusion
Difficulty breathing or chest pain with breathing
Bluish skin
Stiff neck
Inability to move an arm or leg
First time seizure
What is Ellis County doing to prepare
for Avian or Pandemic influenza?
• Continuous surveillance
• Pandemic influenza plans are in place to be
implemented if the need arises.
• Exercising mass dispensing clinic operations
What can I do to prepare for Pandemic
Flu?
• Make a plan NOW for a flu pandemic.
• Figure out what you will do if members of your
household have to stay home from work or
school or stay separated from others for a
period of time.
• Prepare an emergency “Stay Kit” and “Go Kit”.
• Prepare a Pandemic Flu care giving supplies kit.
Pandemic Flu Care giving Supplies
• Thermometer
• Soap
• Box of disposable gloves
• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Bleach
• Alcohol-based hand
sanitizer
• Paper towels
• Tissues
• Surgical masks
For Additional Information
www.co.ellis.tx.us/pandemic.htm
References
• American Red Cross, www.redcross.org
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
www.cdc.gov
• Ellis County Homeland Security,
www.co.ellis.tx.us/emergency.htm or
www.co.ellis.tx.us/pandemic.htm
• National Geographic Society,
www.nationalgeographic.com
• World Health Organization (WHO), www.who.int