1. What is avian (bird) flu?
Avian or bird flu is an infection caused by an influenza virus that occurs naturally in wild birds. The flu strain that worries health officials, H5N1, is spread easily among birds and can sicken and kill wild and domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and migratory birds. Less commonly, the virus can infect pigs and tigers.

The virus does not usually spread to humans but some have become infected after coming into contact with sick birds or surfaces contaminated with the feces and/or secretions of sick birds.

2. What is the H5N1 virus?
H5N1 is one particular strain of the bird flu that is highly contagious among birds. It is a type A influenza virus that is usually only found in birds but can cause death in humans.

3. Where did bird flu originate?
The first recorded case of H5N1 bird flu in humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The current outbreak of the H5N1 virus in birds began in South Asia in mid 2003 and is considered the most severe on record, according to the World Health Organization. Eight nations (South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and China) reported outbreaks through February 2004. The virus has since been reported in Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkey, Romania and Croatia, as of October 2005. Investigations continue in other nations.

4. Can humans catch bird flu?
The current bird flu virus, H5N1, can spread from birds to humans. This particular strain of the bird flu virus causes serious problems and even death in humans. Those infected suffer from viral pneumonia and organ failure. More than half of those infected have died.

The main route of infection to humans is through direct contact with infected birds or surfaces. Most of the current cases of human infection were found in rural or semi-rural areas among people who keep flocks of domesticated foul. Most were exposed to the virus during the slaughter, defeathering, butchering or preparing of infected birds for cooking. There is no evidence that properly cooked birds or eggs can spread infection, according to the World Health Organization.

5. How does bird flu spread?
Bird flu is currently spread among birds via saliva, nasal excretions and feces and contaminated surfaces. People who have contracted the H5N1 virus from birds have come into contact with contaminated birds or surfaces.

6. How serious is the risk of an avian flu pandemic?
A pandemic is a world-wide outbreak of disease in humans. According to the World Health Organization, three criteria are necessary for an avian flu pandemic: a new virus emerges; it seriously infects humans; and spreads easily from human to human. While the H5N1 virus is new and more lethal than other flu viruses, it does not yet spread easily from human to human. According to health experts, the key to preventing a pandemic is to stop the spread of the virus among birds.

7. What are the symptoms of bird flu in people?
Humans infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus have typical flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, as well as more severe symptoms like viral pneumonia and organ failure.

8. Is there a treatment for bird flu in people?
Two drugs, commercially known as Tamiflu and Relenza, are known to reduce symptoms and severity of seasonal influenza or flu. If administered early they may work similarly with the H5N1 virus too, but clinical data is limited, according to the World Health Organization.

9. Is there a bird flu vaccine?
At present there is no commercially available vaccine for the H5N1 bird flu virus, although several countries are in the process of developing them.

10. Should I avoid traveling to countries where bird flu outbreaks have occurred?
As of October 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend avoiding travel to countries affected by the H5N1 virus outbreak. When traveling to affected areas, they recommend avoiding direct contact with poultry, such as bird farms or markets, frequent hand washing with soap and water and to be sure to eat only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs.

11. Is it safe to eat poultry or to have a bird feeder?
The H5N1 strain has not been detected in North America and experts are not certain it will emerge on this continent. There is no scientific evidence that the virus can be spread through properly cooked poultry or eggs. There is also no evidence that the disease can transmit via contaminated food or food products shipped from areas where humans have become infected, the New York Times reported.

12. What can I do to prepare for bird flu?
At present, the best way to prevent infection from any influenza virus is frequent and careful hand washing with soap and water.