Avian Influenza (Bird Flu): Frequently Asked Questions
What is bird flu?
Influenza viruses that infect birds are called avian influenza viruses. These viruses don't usually infect humans. A relatively small number of people in East Asia have gotten sick with a particular avian flu strain (called H5N1). This virus has not shown transmission from one human to another.
What is a pandemic?
A pandemic is an outbreak of an illness affecting a large fraction of the people in a given region, country, or the world as a whole.
Is there a vaccine for bird flu?
Currently there is no vaccine for humans effective against the avian flu virus seen in Asia. The regular yearly flu vaccine will offer no protection against the bird flu. However, vaccine development efforts are under way. When an avian flu vaccine becomes available for general use, we will offer it to our patients.
Should I stock up on antiviral medications, flu drugs, like Tamiflu?
No. There are a few reasons why having Tamiflu available in your home is not a good idea.
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It's not clear whether Tamiflu is effective against the current strain of the avian flu. In addition, flu viruses are constantly changing so that if there is ever an outbreak of bird flu in the U.S., Tamiflu may not be effective against that strain.
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Taking an antiviral medication such as Tamiflu if not necessary may cause the virus to develop resistance to the medication. In that case, Tamiflu may become ineffective against bird flu and against the ordinary flu when needed most, during an outbreak.
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Stocking up on Tamiflu "just in case" may create a situation where those who truly need it may not be able to get it.
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If you store Tamiflu at home for an extended period, it may expire before you use it.
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You won't know when you need Tamiflu. Many different viruses cause flu-like illnesses, and without testing no one can know if an illness is flu, or whether it's bird flu or regular flu. Tamiflu should only be taken if a physician has diagnosed your illness.
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Taking unnecessary medications increases your risk of possible side effects and allergic reactions.
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Tamiflu is not a vaccine; it can't protect you against flu in the future if you take it now. It is only effective while you are taking it.
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Most importantly, we don't know if there will be an outbreak of avian flu in the U.S.
What can I do to prepare for a possible outbreak of bird flu in the U.S.?
Currently, the risk of an avian flu outbreak in the U.S. is low. You are more likely to come down with the regular flu.
What do I do if I'm traveling to East Asia?
At this point, neither the CDC nor the World Health Organization is recommending Tamiflu for travelers. In addition to the precautions below, staying away from live poultry and poultry farms are recommended. If you become ill with fever or flu-like symptoms while away or within 10 days of returning home, seek medical care. Make sure you tell your health care provider about your travel.
What should I do about regular flu?
The risks of regular flu haven't disappeared this year, just because bird flu is in the news. For people at high risk of complications from the flu (people more than 50 years old, children between 6 and 23 months of age, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic medical conditions), this year's flu vaccine is still strongly recommended. We don't anticipate any shortage of the vaccine. The CDC has published data that every year on the average:
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5% to 20% of the population gets the regular flu;
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More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
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About 36,000 people die from flu.
There are also other simple ways to prevent any kind of respiratory infection, not just the flu, such as covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and frequently washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Where can I find more information on avian influenza?
Go to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website flu information page:
http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/epii/flu/flu1.htm
Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's flu information page:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ and avian flu information page http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm