Avian influenza in birds
Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds.

Domesticated birds may become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with the virus.

Influenza A (H5N1) virus – also called “H5N1 virus” – is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. H5N1 virus does not usually infect people, but infections with these viruses have occurred in humans. Most of these cases have resulted from people having direct or close contact with H5N1-infected poultry or H5N1-contaminated surfaces.

Human health risks during the H5N1 outbreak
Of the few avian influenza viruses that have crossed the species barrier to infect humans, H5N1 has caused the largest number of detected cases of severe disease and death in humans. However, it is possible that those cases in the most severely ill people are more likely to be diagnosed and reported, while milder cases go unreported.

Of the human cases associated with the ongoing H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and wild birds in Asia and parts of Europe, the Near East and Africa, more than half of those people reported infected with the virus have died. Most cases have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults and have resulted from direct or close contact with H5N1-infected poultry or H5N1-contaminated surfaces. In general, H5N1 remains a very rare disease in people. The H5N1 virus does not infect humans easily, and if a person is infected, it is very difficult for the virus to spread to another person.

While there has been some human-to-human spread of H5N1, it has been limited, inefficient and unsustained. For example, in 2004 in Thailand, probable human-to-human spread in a family resulting from prolonged and very close contact between an ill child and her mother was reported. Most recently, in June 2006, WHO reported evidence of human-to-human spread in Indonesia. In this situation, 8 people in one family were infected. The first family member is thought to have become ill through contact with infected poultry. This person then infected six family members. One of those six people (a child) then infected another family member (his father). No further spread outside of the exposed family was documented or suspected.

Nonetheless, because all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that H5N1 virus one day could be able to infect humans and spread easily from one person to another. Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population. If H5N1 virus were to gain the capacity to spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin.

No one can predict when a pandemic might occur. However, experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily and widely from person to person.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) this month confirmed the first human death in Nigeria and west Africa due to the H5N1 virus and sent an expert team to implement an emergency plan of action to prevent the virus spreading throughout the country and elsewhere in the region.
The H5N1 strain was first reported in Nigeria a year ago. Our country, with a population of some 140 million, has frontiers with Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

The risk of the H5N1 virus transferring from animals to humans in Nigeria has not increased since a woman died last month in the first fatality in West Africa from bird flu, a UN official has said.
Nigerian authorities last Friday announced a fresh outbreak of avian flu, following an eight-month reprieve, in poultry farms in a fourth northern state, Bauchi.

Treatment and vaccination for H5N1 virus in humans
The H5N1 virus that has caused human illness and death in Asia is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, two antiviral medications commonly used for influenza. Two other antiviral medications, oseltamavir and zaminavir, would probably work to treat influenza caused by H5N1 virus, but additional studies still need to be done to demonstrate their effectiveness. In Nigeria, Glaxosmithkline produces Tamiflu, and Rolenza (zanamavir) a prophylactic antiviral agent used in treatment of the WHO phase 5 of the Avian flu.

There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place. Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005, and a series of clinical trials is under way.

There's been a lot of talk in the news about avian flu, but what is it? "Avian" means related to birds. Avian flu is an influenza virus that affects mostly birds and sometimes pigs. This isn't the same flu that people normally get.

The main difference between the regular flu and avian flu is the way it has spread. Regular flu spreads from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or picking up the germs other people have left behind. That's why people are always telling you to wash your hands during flu season.

So far, the bird flu has spread only from bird to bird and bird to person - not person to person. Avian flu has mostly infected birds in Asia. When birds get it, they get sick and often die. Some people who handle the birds, such as farmers, have caught avian flu from the animals.

This illness has been very serious for about 100 people who have been infected. More than half died from it. That makes it tougher than the regular flu. With the regular flu, most healthy people will recover after a week or two of feeling sick. They usually don't even need special medicine.

Who's at Risk?
Right now, you're not at risk for getting bird flu unless you're a bird or you're a farmer or someone who handles chickens and other birds. And so far, the United States hasn't had any cases of this serious bird flu, called H5N1.
But there's good reason why people everywhere are concerned about bird flu:

• The virus appears to be spreading from birds in Asia to birds in other countries.
• Unlike the regular flu, there's no vaccine yet to protect people from catching it.
• It's possible the virus could change (mutate) and become a kind of germ that could be easily passed from person to person.

What's Being Done?
A lot of people are working to protect people from avian flu. About 150 million birds have been destroyed in countries where the infection has struck. That's one way of keeping the virus from spreading. Lots of groups - from the World Health Organization down to local governments - are also talking about how they would handle it if there were an outbreak of bird flu.

But maybe most importantly, medical researchers are working on a vaccine that would protect people from catching bird flu, even if it started to spread among people. Those researchers are also figuring out the most helpful medicines to give someone who does catch bird flu.

What Can You Do?
In most places, there's no immediate threat to humans from bird flu. And the best precaution to take is an easy one: Wash your hands. By keeping your hands clean you also protect yourself from other, far more common illnesses, like colds and the regular flu. Be sure to wash them thoroughly with soap and water, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, or after being around someone who's sick.

And if you have a pet bird, make sure to keep your pet and its food and water inside, away from a place where they could be exposed to any infected birds. Make sure to keep your bird's cage clean, and wash your hands after playing with or petting your bird.

Some people might live in or visit a country that has had an outbreak of bird flu. Those countries include Cambodia, China, Croatia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and recently Nigeria. If you're in one of those places, avoid any contact with chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys, quail, or any wild birds. Stay away from live bird markets, local poultry farms, or any other settings where there might be infected poultry. Avoid touching surfaces that could have been contaminated by bird saliva (spit), feces (poop), or urine (pee).

No matter where you live, you might be worried about bird flu. Often, what you hear on TV or read in the newspapers focuses on the very worst thing that could happen. Remember that bird flu is not spreading quickly to humans right now and many people are getting prepared in case something changes.