With complicated and conflicting reports on the avian flu, it’s difficult for students to know what to be concerned about or how to prevent it.
The avian flu, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a contagious disease caused by viruses that normally infect birds and sometimes pigs. It is not a new disease, but the current outbreak is the largest ever recorded, which is why there is so much coverage. Most of the occurrences of the disease have been reported in Indonesia, China, Thailand and Vietnam, but some cases have popped up in Russia and Mongolia.
Infection can occur when one is in close contact with sick poultry or its feces. Mostly farmers with small flocks are at risk, but children and the elderly are also in danger, as with any flu.
“It would be highly rare and unlikely that an ETSU student would catch the avian flu,” said Lisa Barnette, health education coordinator for Student Health Services.
There have been no cases of avian flu in the United States, but it is possible for travelers from Asia or returning from Asian countries to bring the disease back. WHO has ranked the flu as a level 3 on the Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response scale. This means there is no or very limited human to human transmission of the disease.
The CDC, or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says on their web site that the current risk to Americans is low.
The particular strain found in infected Asian countries is not found in the U.S.
Prevention of the virus is simple, according to Barnette and WHO.
“There have been no cases of avian flu when food is properly cooked,” said Barnette. “Preparing food at the correct temperature kills the virus.”
WHO also suggests making sure all consumed eggs have fully done yolks and are not runny. In addition, juices from raw poultry should never mix with other items to be served.
“Washing your hands thoroughly after handling raw food will also help prevent any sort of contamination, no matter what the disease,” Barnette said.
The CDC advises anyone who plans on traveling to an infected country to avoid poultry farms, contact with live animals in markets and any surfaces that appear to have animal feces on them.
There is no cure for the avian flu, but the CDC is making effort to share information and prevention techniques by working with the National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Task Force, performing laboratory tests on the flu, distributing reagent kits and giving $5.5 million to improve influenza surveillance in Asia.
For more information or questions about the avian flu, call the Student Health Clinic at 439-4225 and visit www.cdc.gov or www.who.int/en/

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