U.S. RESPONSE TO AVIAN FLU
In this section:
Natsios Meets Top U.S. Health Officials on Avian
Flu Response
What Is Avian Flu?
Natsios Meets Top U.S. Health Officials on Avian Flu Response
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mike Leavitt
briefed Administrator Andrew S. Natsios and senior USAID staff
at a meeting in Washington on Sept. 19 on the federal response
to avian influenza.
The meeting took place two days before Indonesia reported
two more children died from the flu and said it would begin
mass culling of birds.
Leavitt was preparing to visit sites infected by flu in
China and Indonesia.
Natsios said that if the avian flu changes into a form that
can spread from human to human—as experts predict is
likely to take place this winter or next—it could disrupt
international travel and trade.
Also at the meeting were top U.S. government public health
officials: Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta; Dr. Anthony Fauci,
director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases in Bethesda; Dr. Bruce Gellen, director of the national
vaccine program at HHS; and Dennis Carroll of USAID.
During the 1918–19 influenza pandemic, 20 to 40 million
people died worldwide. To prevent spread of the disease, schools
and movie theaters closed. Nevertheless, the flu infected
28 percent of Americans, killing 675,000 of them.
Gerberding said that Natsios’ concern about a potential
flu pandemic having a devastating impact on world health and
development was not exaggerated.
She, Leavitt, and Natsios agreed that it will be critical
to arrange clear communications with the public about actions
to be taken in response to the disease.
USAID, through the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance,
is positioning medical equipment on the ground in Asia. Some
10,000 sets of personal protective equipment—such as
specialized suits, masks, gloves, boots, and eye protection—have
already been provided to health officials in Cambodia, Thailand,
Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia, to help minimize infection and
the spread of the disease by health workers.
The Agency is providing additional funding to the World
Health Organization to organize regional coordination meetings.
What Is Avian Flu?
What is avian flu?
Avian flu is an infection caused by bird influenza, or flu
viruses, which occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide
carry the virus in their intestines, but usually do not get
sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among
birds, and can kill chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
Do bird flu viruses infect humans?
Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several
cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred
since 1997.
How are bird flu viruses different from human flu viruses?
There are many different forms of type A flu viruses. All
can be found in birds, and these are referred to as “bird
flu” viruses. Three subtypes occur in humans and are
called human flu viruses—H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. It is
likely that some genetic parts of current human flu A viruses
came from birds originally. Flu A viruses are constantly changing,
and they might adapt over time to infect and spread among
humans.
What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
Symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like
symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to
eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such
as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening
complications.
How does bird flu spread?
Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions,
and feces. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection
in humans resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated
surfaces.
What is the risk to humans from bird flu?
The risk from bird flu is generally low for most people; the
viruses occur mainly in birds and do not usually infect humans.
However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated
chickens, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people
who have contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated
with excretions from infected birds. The current outbreak
of avian influenza A, or H5N1, among poultry in Asia is an
example of a bird flu outbreak that has caused human infections
and deaths. In such situations, people should avoid contact
with infected birds or contaminated surfaces and should be
careful when handling and cooking poultry.
What is the potential global impact of avian flu?
A preview of what could happen if avian flu spreads among
humans is offered through the spread of SARS during 2003.
Major transportation routes were limited, and the movement
of people from contagious countries to others was restricted.
This has huge ramifications for the global economy, which
interconnects many countries. There are no estimates as to
what an avian flu pandemic would cost, but the price tag is
likely to be gigantic.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USAID
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