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Avian influenza

Bird Flu Fears: Understanding the Risks and Preparations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the threat of pandemic flu continues to grow, the US poultry industry and government agencies are taking measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza, including the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has killed millions of birds in Asia. The strain, which has been transmitted to about 116 people, 60 of whom have died, has sparked concerns that it could mutate and spread from humans to humans.

President Bush has suggested that the military might be needed to enforce quarantines should a pandemic flu hit the US. The administration's draft pandemic plan has been leaked to the New York Times, and the State Department has met with 80 leaders of foreign countries to map out a global strategy. HHS Secretary Michael Levitt has traveled to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam to see the bird problem first-hand.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Chicken Council and the National Turkey Federation have issued a joint press release clarifying that the Asian form of avian flu is not present in the US, and that the industry and government are taking precautions to keep it out.
  • The strain of concern is H5N1, a highly pathogenic influenza that has killed millions of birds in Asia, and has been transmitted to about 116 people, 60 of whom have died.
  • Those who were sickened had hands-on contact with infected birds, and the fear is that the virus could mutate and spread from humans to humans.
  • The US doesn't import poultry products from Southeast Asia, and scientists are checking migratory birds in Alaska and along the West Coast to look for signs that wild birds might carry the virus to the US.
  • More than 12,000 samples have been collected so far, with no positives.
  • The poultry industry has adopted a policy that no one who has been to an area where the Asian flu is present should set foot on a US poultry farm for at least seven days after returning.
  • Should the virus be present on someone's shoes or clothing, it would die during that period.
  • The majority of chickens and turkey in the US are raised in sheltered conditions where they have no contact with animals and very little contact with humans.
  • Chickens often roam at large in villages, and live birds are sold in markets in big cities, where they can infect each other and possibly human beings.
  • The World Health Organization has said there is no evidence of the disease being transmitted through contaminated food.
  • The chances of getting sick from eating a flu-infected bird are "vanishingly small," according to Richard Lobb, spokesman for the National Chicken Council.
  • Consuming properly cooked poultry poses no danger of getting avian influenza.

Statistics:

  • 116 people have been infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, with 60 deaths.
  • The US doesn't import poultry products from Southeast Asia.
  • More than 12,000 samples have been collected so far, with no positives.
  • 60 of the 116 people infected with the H5N1 strain have died.
  • The majority of chickens and turkey in the US are raised in sheltered conditions.

Sources:

  • "President Bush Suggests Using Military to Enforce Quarantines," New York Times, undated
  • "The Administration's Draft Pandemic Plan," New York Times, undated
  • Carole Sugarman, "Bird Flu Fears: Understanding the Risks and Preparations," Food Chemical News, undated
  • Richard Lobb, National Chicken Council, undated
  • Mike Rybolt, National Turkey Federation, undated
  • National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation, "Joint Press Release," undated

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