What is Avian Flu?

Avian Flu is a virus that is very contagious and easily spread between birds, mainly poultry (chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys)

The virus is not yet contractible by humans however health officials fear the virus (H-5N1) could mutate to a human influenza sparking a pandemic.

So far the virus has been found in Asian and south- eastern Europe and France. There are fears the virus could possibly be in Northern Australia also.

Small numbers of people have been infected with the virus through contact with infected birds, often resulting in death.

Outbreaks of the influenza during 2004 and 2005 have concerned international heath agencies regarding the likelihood of an influenza pandemic occurring internationally.

The virus responsible for the current outbreak is H-5N1(bird flu) – a type of influenza not normally associated with human disease.

It has not been shown for sure that humans have been infected with the virus directly from human contact as yet but it is likely to mix with a strain of human influenza mutating into a new virus which could very easily be spread from person to person creating a world wide pandemic.

The New Zealand Government is worried that New Zealanders are not taking Avian Flu seriously therefore planning will not be adequate if bird flu does mutate into a human influenza arriving in New Zealand

© Medica Consulting Limited, 2005