|
AVIAN INLUENZA – BIRD FLU PANDEMIC
Human influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian influenza (bird flu) viruses. Infection of humans by avian influenza viruses is rare, but has occurred with increasing frequency in the last few years.
An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza virus emerges in a human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide.
The H5N1 variant of the bird flu is considered by health experts to be a serious threat of causing a pandemic.
Government Efforts to Protect the Public from Avian Influenza:
The federal government has developed a National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza and an implementation plan for executing the strategy. The plan includes a wild bird surveillance system, international efforts to recognize and respond to an outbreak of pandemic virus, the development of rapid diagnostic tests to allow swift recognition of a pandemic virus in human populations, the development of state-wide pandemic preparedness plans, the development of community-wide mitigation strategies, and vaccine production. For a summary of the implementation plan, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/pandemicflu/.
In Connecticut a wild bird monitoring program has been put into place by federal and state officials. In July 2007, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Wildlife Division will begin inspecting both live and dead birds. Those migratory species that are most likely to come into contact with birds from Asia or Europe will be inspected. This effort fits in with the national wild bird surveillance system.
With the Connecticut Department of Public Health as the lead administrative and planning agency, the state of Connecticut has developed the Connecticut Pandemic Influenza Response Plan. The objective of the plan is to provide a framework for government agencies and private organizations to work together to mitigate the consequences of pandemic influenza. Connecticut's Response plan can be viewed at http://www.dph.state.ct.us/avian/CTDPH%20pan%20flu%20plan%202-feb-2006.pdf.
Further Information in Connecticut:
For inquiries or concerns regarding poultry or sick or dead domestic birds, call the Office of the State Veterinarian at 860-713-2505.
For inquiries regarding wild birds or to report die-offs (several dead birds in the same area), call the Department of Environmental Protection Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011.
Websites:
CT Flu Watch - information on pandemic flu for the public, local governments, schools, businesses and health care providers: http://www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - answers to questions on the bird flu and the H5N1 virus:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm
World Health Organization - answers to frequently asked questions about the bird flu, the H5N1 virus, and pandemics:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/index.html
PandemicFlu.gov - the official U.S. government website on pandemic flu: http://pandemicflu.gov/general
--------------------------------------------------
SOURCES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fact Sheets on Avian Influenza (CDC website); World Health Organization, “Avian Influenza Frequently Asked Questions” (WHO website); CT Flu Watch website
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: April2007
|
