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Avian Flu       Avian influenza (bird flu) is caused by avian influenza viruses, which occur naturally in wild birds worldwide and usually causes no harm. However, it is very contagious among birds, and domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys can become very ill and die. Outbreaks of the particularly pathogenic H5N1 variant of the virus in Asia (China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Laos and South Korea) in 2003-2004, led to the deaths of more than 100 million birds, either from the disease, or killed to control the spread of the disease. New outbreaks have since occurred in Southeast Asia, and have spread to central Asia, Russia, Turkey and Eastern Europe. The disease does not usually infect humans. However, there have been over 125 reported cases in Southeast Asia of humans contracting the disease from contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated with their feces, resulting in almost 70 deaths. Spread of the H5N1 virus from person to person has been extremely rare and has not continued beyond one person. The Centers for Disease Control writes, "Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population. If the H5N1 virus were able to infect people and spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin . . .experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation in Asia closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily and widely from person to person." The Health Sciences and Human Services Library's Avian Flu web page links to selected web sites that may be useful to both the health care community and the consumer. See selection criteria. Journal Article Bibliography - most recent 6 months. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT The White House - National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza U. S. Department of Health and Human Services - PandemicFlu.gov Centers for Disease Control - Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus - Bird Flu National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease - Use search option, enter avian National Wildlife Health Center - Avian Influenza U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service - Avian Influenza U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Division of Migratory Bird Management - Avian Flu - What we need to know USAID - Avian Influenza Response U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Guidance for Protecting Workers Against Avian Flu UNITED NATIONS World Health Organization Frequently Asked Questions Statistics United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization, Animal Production and Health Division Animal Heatlh - Avian Influenza Avian Influenza - Disease Card (special report) INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing - Pandemic Influenza EUROPE European Commission - EU Influenza Research CANADA Public Health Agency of Canada - Avian Influenza Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Avian Influenza ACADEMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota - Avian Influenza Mayo Clinic - Bird flu (avian influenza) Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Avian Influenza Virus Program INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE Avian Flu – What We Need to Know (blog information clearinghouse)

Last edited: December 18, 2007

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