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What is The Avian Flu?

Influenza, or flu, is a type of virus that infects cells within the body causing varying degrees of illness. There are three types of flu virus: A, B and C. The influenza A virus is generally responsible for lethal influenza pandemics, while the influenza B virus typically causes smaller and localized breakouts. The influenza C virus is less common and more stable than types A and B and tends to have milder symptoms. Influenza B and C are usually found only in humans however, the influenza A virus can infect both humans and animals including birds, pigs, horses, whales and seals. The avian flu is a type A virus.

The influenza virus is further broken down into subtypes. For example, H1N1, H1N2 and H1N3 are all common forms of human influenza whereas H7N7 is an equestrian form of influenza. The strain of avian flu that we are currently dealing with is H5N1.

Beyond the subtypes, influenza viruses are broken down once more into strains. These strains are constantly evolving which makes them highly unpredictable and potentially dangerous. The biggest concern with the H5N1 influenza virus is that the current strain will evolve into a form that can easily transmit from human to human.

The H5N1 virus occurs naturally among birds. Migratory birds carry the virus in their intestines, however they are rarely affected by it. The virus is highly contagious among birds and spreads rapidly. Typically, migratory birds infect domesticated birds (e.g., chickens, ducks and geese) through infected saliva, nasal excretions and feces causing the infected birds to become very sick and die.

There are two forms of the avian influenza virus, low pathogen and high pathogen. With the low pathogenic form the virus may go undetected and only cause mild symptoms such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production. The high pathogenic form is much more aggressive, spreading rapidly through flocks of poultry and affecting multiple organs within each bird. In as little as 48 hours of becoming infected with the high pathogenic form, 90% to 100% of the birds will die.

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What is the current human health risk?

According to the CDC, the risk of humans becoming infected by the current strain of the avian flu virus is very low. Generally, avian flu viruses do not cross over to humans however, in 1997 18 people in Hong Kong became infected and 9 of them died from the virus. Since then, there have been 176 confirmed avian flu cases in humans and 97 deaths.

Most human infection cases result from contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds. There are a few rare cases of one human spreading the virus to another human but the transmission has not been observed beyond one person. The concern is that the virus will mutate and become easily transmitted between humans, however currently that is not the situation.

More than half of the humans infected with the avian flu have died, with most of the cases of infection occurring in previously healthy children and young adults. However, it is possible that the current data is not accurate as some of the human cases may not have been diagnosed or reported.

Because avian viruses typically do not infect humans, there is little to no immune protection against them in the human population. If the avian flu virus were to gain the capacity to spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic could begin. It is impossible to predict with certainty if a pandemic will occur, but scientists are closely tracking the situation and preparing for the possibility that the virus could mutate and spread among humans.

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What are the symptoms of avian flu in humans?

Although the exact incubation period for avian flu in humans is unclear, illness seems to develop within one to five days of exposure to the virus. Symptoms of avian flu in humans range from typical flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches to eye infections, pneumonia and severe respiratory disease. If you suspect that you may have come in contact with an infected bird and are displaying symptoms of the avian flu, contact your health care provider immediately. A simple blood test will need to be performed to determine if you are infected with avian flu.

Is it safe to eat poultry?

To date there is no evidence that the avian flu virus can be transmitted to humans through properly cooked food (even if contaminated with the virus prior to cooking). However, you should keep in mind the following facts provided by the World Health Organization when preparing poultry:

Conventional cooking (temperatures at or above 70 degrees C in all parts of a food item) will inactivate the avian flu virus. Properly cooked poultry meat is therefore safe to consume.
The avian flu virus, if present in poultry meat, is not killed by refrigeration or freezing.
Home slaughtering and preparation of sick or dead poultry for food is hazardous and should not be done.
Eggs can contain the avian flu virus both on the outside (shell) and the inside (whites and yolk). Eggs from areas with avian flu outbreaks should not be consumed raw or partially cooked (runny yolk); uncooked eggs should not be used in foods that will not be cooked, baked or heat treated in other ways.
The greatest risk of exposure to the virus is through the handling and slaughter of live infected poultry. Good hygiene practices are essential during slaughter and post- slaughter handling to prevent exposure via raw poultry meat or cross contamination from poultry to other foods, food preparation surfaces or equipment.

The World Health Organization has prepared the following 4 steps for safer food:

Separate raw meat from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination. Do not use the same chopping board or the same knife for raw meat and other foods. Do not handle both raw and cooked foods without washing your hands in between and do not place cooked meat back on the same plate or surface it was on before cooking. Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in food preparations that will not be heat treated or cooked.
Keep clean and wash your hands. After handling frozen or thawed raw chicken or eggs, wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Wash and disinfect all surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with the raw meat.
Cook thoroughly. Thorough cooking of poultry meat will inactivate the virus. Either ensure that the poultry meat reaches 70 degrees C at the center of the product or that the meat is not pink in any part. Egg yolks should not be runny or liquid.
Do not eat raw poultry parts or raw eggs.

What is a pandemic?

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. Three key conditions must be met for a pandemic to start:

A new influenza virus subtype must emerge for which there is little or no immunity.
It must infect humans and cause illness.
It must spread easily and sustainably (continue without interruption) among humans.

If you recall from the first part of our series, the strain of virus that we are currently faced with is referred to as H5N1. Researchers are concerned about H5N1’s potential to develop into a pandemic because it has already met the first two criteria: H5N1 is an avian virus that humans have no immunity to, yet it has the ability to infect humans causing illness and, in more than half of the cases, resulting in death.

Currently, there are only a few documented cases of the avian flu spreading amongst humans and in those cases the human-to-human spread occurred between family members. Additionally, the virus did not spread beyond one person. This is good news to scientists. If the virus does not gain the ability to spread between humans then a pandemic will not occur. The concern, however, is that virus strains, such as H5N1, are constantly evolving, which makes them highly unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Viruses can evolve in two ways, either through a process called “Reassortment” or through “Adaptive Mutation”.

“Reassortment” occurs when genetic material is exchanged between human and avian viruses during coinfection (infection with both viruses at the same time) of a human or other mammal. Pigs are often a boiling pot of sorts where these two types of viruses can commingle and evolve into a more deadly and easily spreadable form. Researchers are keeping a close eye on the number of pigs infected with H5N1, as this could be an indicator of an impending pandemic.

“Adaptive Mutation” is a more gradual process where the capability of a virus to bind to human cells increases during infections in humans. The more humans infected with the avian virus, the higher potential that the virus could adaptively mutate into a form easily transferred from human to human.

Genetic studies show that the H5N1 strain is continually evolving; however, to date there is no evidence that it has evolved to the point where it can spread easily and sustainably among humans. Should the virus evolve to meet this third requirement then we will be faced with a global pandemic.

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Is there a vaccine and/or treatment for the avian flu?

Currently there is no vaccine available to treat the avian flu. Several drug companies are in the midst of developing such a vaccine; however, the process is a lengthy one that could take up to 9 months and, once a vaccine has been developed, would take several months to manufacture. Additionally, due to the virus’s ever-evolving nature, any vaccine produced could become obsolete quickly.

When it comes to treating the avian flu, there are two antiviral medications, Relenza and Tamiflu, which have shown some success in combating the virus. Unfortunately, resistance to these medications has been reported.

8 All-Natural Ways to Protect Your Family From the Flu

The best thing that you can do for yourself and your family is practice prudent avoidance when it comes to the flu. Since the virus can evolve through reassortment (link to “What is a pandemic?” page) it is just as important to protect yourself from the human form of the flu. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 8 all-natural ways that can boost your immune system and keep you flu free.

Taste the Rainbow
Eating a wide variety of fresh, wholesome foods packed with powerful vitamins and minerals is the first step to ensuring a strong immune system. Vitamins A, B6, C, and E and the minerals zinc, iron, copper, and selenium are critical for maintaining strength and immunity. Make sure that your diet consists of a rainbow of fruits and vegetables to ensure that you are getting all of the necessary nutrients. Supplementing your diet with a daily multivitamin will fill the gaps where your eating plan falls short and should be an essential part of your health regime. During cold and flu season, increase your dosage of Vitamin C for added virus fighting benefits. Should you still become sick, studies have shown that the powerful antioxidants in Vitamin C can reduce both the symptoms and duration of the flu.
Order Extra Garlic
Certain foods can give you an extra boost and should be factored into your regular eating habits. Garlic is known for it’s antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties and can prevent infections from taking hold and spreading. A daily serving of 2 raw garlic cloves will provide you with the bulbous herbs healthy benefits. Tip: To avoid offensive garlic breath cut the cloves into smaller pieces and then swallow them with water or herbal tea. Follow with a sprig of parsley.
Eat A Mushroom A Day
Mushrooms have been found to increase production and activity of white blood cells, improving your chances of fighting off infection. Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms provide the biggest immunity boost.
Have a Tea Party
Jump-start your immune system each morning with a fresh pot of black tea. While the healthy properties in black tea have been known for centuries, a recent Harvard University study confirmed its healing effects. The study found that people who drank 5 cups of black tea a day for two weeks had 10 times higher levels of the cold and virus fighting chemical interferon than those who did not drink tea. Researchers suspect that green tea has the same effect.
Run Away
Exercising for 30 to 60 minutes daily can give your immune system the extra kick that it needs. A study conducted by David Nieman at Appalachian State University found that people who walked regularly for 12 weeks had half the number of colds and sore throats as people who were less active. Exercise is also a great way to reduce stress and its harmful effects on the immune system. It has been estimated that 90% of illness and disease is stress related. But don’t overdo it! Too much exercise can have the opposite effect on your immune system. Exercising for more than 90 minutes a day could make you more susceptible to the flu virus.
Sleep On It
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for the immune system to recharge itself. An overly fatigued body doesn’t have the necessary strength to fight off infections. With 8 hours a night of solid sleep, your body will be ready to face a new day and ward off pesky invaders.

Lather Up
A strong immune system should be able to combat the flu virus, but washing your hands frequently can increase your health odds even more. Use warm water and soap and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes to prevent the virus from entering your system. 8. Avoid the Flu Shot
According to Dr. J. Anthony Morris, the former Chief Vaccine Control Officer at the FDA, “There is no evidence that any influenza vaccine, thus far developed, is effective in preventing or mitigating any attack of influenza.” When you also consider the toxic mixture of chemicals found in the flu vaccine, the decision becomes a no brainer. Among the vaccine’s ingredients are such toxins as ethylene glycol (a.k.a. antifreeze), formaldehyde (a known carcinogen), aluminum (linked to Alzheimer’s Disease and known to produce cancer in mice) and thimerosol (a form of mercury, the most toxic of all heavy metals). Thimerosol has had so much scrutiny in the past decade that it has been banned in all childhood vaccinations in the United States, yet it still remains in the influenza vaccine today.

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Avian Flu Links

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization World Organization for Animal Health

For more information on pandemics, check out these links:
Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide For Individuals and Families
Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist Family Emergency Health Information Sheet Emergency Contact Form