AVIAN INFLUENZA Is an infectious disease of birds

AVIAN INFLUENZA Is an infectious disease of birds caused by the influenza virus Influenza strain H 5 N 1 has been transmitted from poultry to humans through direct contact, causing deaths since 1997 a WHO/MZCC informational leaflet for people living in Avian Influenza affected areas Avoid Contact with Domestic or Wild Birds unless it is Absolutely Necessary World Health Organization Mediterranean Zoonoses Control Centre ATHENS, Greece mzcc@ath. forthnet. gr Edited by Dr. N. Charisis www. mzcp-zoonoses. gr

The influenza viruses: • Replicate easily in humans and animals • Elude host defenses H 5 N 1 virus (CDC Public Health Image Library) That’s why vaccines should be adjusted continuously ATTENTION THERE IS NO HUMAN VACCINE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME BEEN (=January 2006) So the health of you and your family depends on YOUR hygienic habits

why Avian Influenza virus is so…. dangerous? BECAUSE Mutates rapidly, (=can be adapted to other animal species; ) Can cause severe disease in humans; The disease in poultry may be “mild” with ruffled feathers and reduced egg production, thus going undetected by the owner. Surviving birds excrete virus for at least 10 days mild illness The Severe form of the disease is (highly contagious and fatal)

It is transmitted easily from poultry to poultry or from poultry to humans through: a) mechanical ways, - contaminated equipment, - vehicles, - feed, - cages, - clothing b) inhalation of desiccated infected poultry faeces……. . Can survive for long in the environment, especially when temperatures are low. Refrigeration Therefore of infected meat and eggs doesn’t protect anyone from the virus!! 21

SYMPTOMS IN MAN Clinical Picture Typical influenza-like symptoms Fever (>380 C), dry, non productive cough sore throat, headache, muscle aches Severe Eye infections, severe respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, other complications Duration of illness: Average: 13 days, Range: 5 to 31 days

How to protect yourself ! Don’t let domestic or wild birds entering the house Protect food from insects or rodents

Find ways to avoid contact of your poultry with wild birds: - keep chickens and ducks in enclosed (fenced) hen-houses, - don’t throw seeds in the yard, -use scarecrows Keep children away from poultry In case of sick or dead birds, “ask the Authorities for ADVICE” Wash hands carefully with hot water and soap after: - contact with live or dead poultry, faeces or feathers - before you eat or touch cooked food, fruits or vegetables (Remove jewelry before hand washing: Jewellery makes hand-washing less effective)

Don’t transport: - live, or dead birds - raw or cooked bird meat - eggs

Use long trousers, shirts, boots, gloves and masks when you collect the eggs or work in a hen-house. Consider always these cloths contaminated and keep them outside of the house. Wash them regularly with boiling water and soap or detergent Use protective cloths (masks, gloves and goggles) for slaughtering poultry Burn or bury at a depth of 1 meter dead carcasses, faeces and feathers after slaughter in infected areas

REMEMBER : “Only Heat can KILL influenza virus” - Cook Poultry meat at + 700 C (no pink meat or juices should be observed) - Cook eggs for 5 minutes at + 700 C Don’t prepare or eat dishes containing raw or undercooked eggs, (home-made mayonnaise, sauces, mousses) For mayonnaise, sauces should be cooked for at list 5 min. in 700 C Eggs for children should be boiled for 5 min Keep raw food separate from cooked food

Do not store raw and cooked food in the same container Don’t cut raw poultry and other meat or food on the same cutting board (or wash it well after you cut chicken) Reheat cooked food to at least 700 C! Proper reheating kills microorganisms, which may have developed during storage. This rule also applies when freshly cooked food is added to leftovers. Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing: Use a handkerchief and wash hands again before touching food

Thawing Discard all liquid accumulated during defrosting of meat and poultry - if refrigerator shelves, table tops or utensils are soiled with it, they should be thoroughly washed! These liquids may contain disease-causing micro organisms ICE Drips may contaminate surfaces or other food Don’t eat sick or dead birds ! Don’t let People with Influenza symptoms to handle, cook or work near of any kind of food Don’t buy live birds for replacement (from unknown source!) Before you replace your dead or culled poultry ask the Authorities for permission!