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Avian Flu Disease, 2005

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20 key points about pandemic influenza

1. There are three types of influenza: A, B and C.

2. Types A & B cause normal influenza which we see every winter; sometimes these produce epidemics with which we are all familiar.

3. Influenza type C is one of the many viruses which cause the 'common cold', and is of no public health importance.

4. Influenza A actually exists in the form of subtypes, for example: in 1968, subtype H3N2 emerged, known as 'Hong Kong flu' and in 1997, H5N1, known as 'bird flu' or 'avian flu'.

5. If a new subtype of influenza A emerges which can: a) cause human disease, and b) spread easily from person to person, this produces a pandemic. This last happened in 1968 (H3N2).

6. Because a pandemic virus is new to man, virtually no one has any immunity. This means the virus causes more severe disease in more people.

7. A pandemic is therefore much more severe than an epidemic.

8. An influenza A virus like H5N1 ('bird flu') poses what is known as a 'pandemic threat'; it can cause severe disease in humans but at present it cannot transmit easily from person to person. If it developed that ability, it would probably cause a pandemic.

9. We can predict certain facts about the next pandemic even though we definitely cannot predict when it will occur.

10. A pandemic will spread rapidly around the world.

11. About 25% of persons will become ill with symptoms (another 25% will get infected but will not get symptoms).

12. Many more people than usual will need medical care from a GP.

13. Many more than usual will be ill enough to need hospital care.

14. Many more than usual will die.

15. Staff sickness absence will be increased in all work sectors.

16. The pandemic will come in a wave lasting 3-4 months, and there may be more than one wave.

17. Children and young (working age) adults may be affected just as badly or more badly than the elderly (but we can't predict this).

18. Currently available flu vaccines will not work in a pandemic.

19. A new pandemic vaccine will need to be developed, taking 4-6 months to develop once the virus is identified.

20. Antiviral drugs are likely to be available for treatment, but supplies of these will be limited.

Avian influenza - situation in Thailand
Avian influenza - situation in Thailand

26 July 2006

The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has confirmed a case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza. The patient, a 17-year-old man from Thap Khlo district of Phichit province in the north, developed symptoms on 15 July, was hospitalized on 20 July and died on 24 July.

On 10 July, the young man had buried the carcasses of dead chickens. This case coincides with a recurrence of a confirmed H5N1 outbreak in animals in the province. Control measures have been implemented to contain the animal outbreak and human surveillance has been strengthened. Field investigations have not found any indications of respiratory illness in close contacts of the young man.

This is the first human case of H5N1 infection reported from Thailand in 2006.

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News from EMM

Bangladesh slaughters 117,000 birds over avian flu
DHAKA �?? At least 117,000 chickens were destroyed in northern Bangladesh Sunday after avian flu outbreak on one of the country's largest poultry farms, a local official said. The deadly H5N1 strain of flu was detected on Saturday when 400 chickens died suddenly at the Kazi Farms complex in Thakurgaon....
Source: austrianews

Bangladesh culls 117,000 chickens after avian flu outbreak (Channel NewsAsia)
DHAKA : At least 117,000 chickens were destroyed in northern Bangladesh on Sunday after avian flu outbreak on one of the country's largest poultry farms, a local official said.

Earth Talk 3/14/2010 (The Scranton Times-Tribune)
Q: How does growing human population, and its resultant landscape changes, affect the flight paths of migratory birds that might carry diseases? A: As human population numbers grow, oceans of people seem to spread out into every conceivable environment

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