INFORMATION ABOUT FLU-BIRD

INFORMATION ABOUT FLU-BIRD

1. What is called Flu-Bird?

Bird Flu is an illness caused by influenza viruses that attack the bird / poultry / chicken. One to watch is the type caused by influenza viruses with H5N1 genetic code (H = Haemagglutinin, N = Neuramidase) which in addition can be transmitted from bird to bird it can also be transmitted from birds to humans.

2. Who should watch? And how the clinical symptoms of an attack humans?

That should be aware of is

a) if a person works in a laboratory to process samples from patients or infected animals or

b) 1 week ago to work or visit the farm / place of slaughtering chickens / poultry in affected areas or

c) contact with Avian Influenza HPAI (Highly pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 virus, or more specifically when the disease is easily transmitted and then suffer from the disease with symptoms: heat over 38 degrees Celsius, cough, and sore throat. Such patients by the WHO called Possible case of Influenza A (H5N1).

Circumstances it may be more severe if there is pneumonia with shortness of breath (lung inflammation) and cause high mortality (in Hong Kong of 1997 the death rate 33.33%, or 6 of 18 cases).

3. How long is the incubation period? And when the man how long the infection?

a) Very short incubation period is 1-3 days,

b) Although not yet prove the existence of transmission from human to human, infection period (during which patients Avian Flu H5N1 is expected to transmit the virus) is 1 day before symptoms appear and 3-5 days after symptoms appear with a maximum of 7 days (but there is literature that mention to 21 days in children).

4. Is the disease transmitted to humans from the human family as SARS?

Until recently from human to human transmission has not been proven. So far there is transmission from birds / poultry / chicken-Bird Flu to humans through the feces or the secretary bird that pollute the air and hand handlers. However, in terms of the spread of an outbreak which is feared is that if Bird Flu-gene mutation and become transmissible from human to human as happened in SARS.

5. Who is most at high risk of contracting bird flu?

They are high risk are farm workers, vendors and handlers poultry products / bird / chicken. Laboratory workers who studied the disease are also at high risk of contracting. Children and the elderly (60 years) and those in low immunity conditions (long-term steroid drug users, drug sitostatika for cancer) is a group that is prone to severe disease

6. What about prevention?

Recommendations for prevention as for those involved in livestock / poultry slaughtering / birds / chickens en masse, especially in the areas affected are issued by the WHO / WPRO Manila January 14, 2004 the point is as follows. :

a) Wash hands frequently, handlers should also perform hand disinfection (70% alcohol can be, or a solution of bleach / chlorine 0.5% for alat2/instrument)

b) Use personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, protective glasses, protective footwear and protective clothing when carrying out duties or farm infected in the laboratory

c) They are exposed to the avian / bird / suspected infected chickens should be vaccinated with human influenza vaccines are recommended by the WHO in order to prevent infection with a mixture of Man-Flu-Bird Flu, which may lead to type-Bird Flu virus that can infect humans.

d) Perform a passive observation of the health of those exposed and their families. Consider complaints such as flu, sore eyes, and respiratory complaints). People at high risk for influenza are those aged over 60 years, or a diseased lung and chronic heart should not be working in poultry / birds / chickens.

e) Perform a serological survey in those exposed to animals, including the doctor-

f) If there is a risk for inhaling the polluted air in the farm / slaughter of the infected place, prevention with antiviral drugs (such as with Oseltamivir 75 mg in a capsule, 1 time a day for 7 days).

g) The laboratory tests to confirm and isolate the virus that causes it: send the blood specimen and the tools (intestine, liver, nose and mouth swabs, trachea, lung, spleen, kidney, brain and heart) of animals suspected of contracting the disease (including pigs) to an authorized laboratory.

7. Is eating chicken meat or poultry can transmit the disease-Bird Flu?

Secretary of liquid manure and poultry infected with infectious if not cooked.

Warm 90 degrees Celsius in 1 minute can be deadly virus.

Sources: WHO: Avian Influenza Fact Sheet, January 15, 2004

Case-Definitions Draft Influenza A/H5N1