21 August 2008Frequently asked questions about avian influenza or bird flu:
Does it affect humans and if so, how?
Can people get it from other people?
Who is most at most risk if we had the disease in poultry in the UK?
Can we vaccinate people against bird flu?
What are the risks from eating poultry or eggs?
Is it safe to eat poultry and eggs?
What advice should I follow for touching uncooked poultry meat?
Is cooking poultry and eggs likely to kill the virus?
I keep birds. What should I do now?
Should free-range poultry be locked up?
Further information
Does it affect humans and if so, how?
Humans are usually infected only through close contact with live infected birds.The severity of disease in humans varies from mild disease to severe respiratory disease. This depends on the strain of virus and characteristics of the person infected. Human deaths have been reported following severe disease.Since December 2003, AI in Vietnam and Thailand, and more recently Cambodia and Indonesia, has resulted in 112 cases in humans (and 57 deaths) – to 10th October 2005 - see the WHO website for up to date information.
Can people get it from other people?
There has been a limited number of well documented cases in which there is evidence to suggest person-to-person transmission but to date there is no evidence that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has adapted to spread easily in humans. Examples of these family clusters are described on the Health Protection Agency website.
Who is most at risk if we had the disease in poultry in the UK?
People in close contact with infected poultry or infective material from poultry are most at risk. This would include poultry farm workers, veterinarians and others involved in disease control.
Can we vaccinate people against bird flu?
There is currently no vaccine to protect people against AI infection or disease, though one is being developed. There is however good evidence that avian flu viruses respond to antiviral drugs, and in the UK oseltamivir or other appropriate antiviral agent would be used for the treatment of avian flu in people exposed to the virus. Or to protect people, including poultry workers, who might become exposed to the virus during disease control activities. Such people will be supplied with appropriate antiviral drugs, under prescription, as soon as possible and at least within 48 hours of exposure.The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation currently advise that routine vaccination of poultry workers and veterinarians with seasonal human flu vaccine is not recommended, but should be used in a confirmed outbreak of avian flu as a protection against the possibility of re-assortment with human flu virus for those people who might be exposed to the virus during disease control activities.
What are the risks from eating poultry or eggs?
The Food Standards Agency asked the Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety in Food (ACMSF), which provides independent expert advice to Government on questions relating to microbiology and food, to consider recent developments since it last discussed avian (bird) flu in 2003.The ACMSF met at the beginning of December 2005 to consider current information on avian flu and the conclusions from a recent meeting of influenza virologists and epidemiologists, which was chaired by Dr David Brown of the ACMSF. The review group examined current information on avian flu and its implications for food borne transmission in the UK.
The committee concluded that the recent information on avian flu had not changed its current risk assessment and, following the meeting, the ACMSF's advice therefore remains as follows:
The UK is free from the avian flu virus (H5N1). The FSA considers that the outbreak of avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that in areas free from the disease, poultry and poultry products can be prepared and eaten as usual (following good hygiene practice and proper cooking), with no fear of acquiring infection. Like the WHO, the FSA advises proper handling during food preparation. When handling raw poultry, the person involved in the food preparation should wash their hands thoroughly and clean surfaces and utensils in contact with the poultry products. Soap and hot water are sufficient for this purpose.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has previously (26 October 2005) issued advice on the importance of thoroughly cooking poultry and eggs. This reiterates long-standing advice about cooking poultry and eggs thoroughly to kill bugs. EFSA, like the FSA, is not aware of any reports of people getting avian flu from eating poultry or eggs and recognises that the current risk is from people having contact with live birds that have the disease. For people, the risk of catching the disease comes from being in close contact with live poultry that have the disease, and not through eating poultry or eggs. Poultry can include chicken, duck, goose, turkey, guinea fowl and so on.
Is it safe to eat poultry and eggs?
On the basis of current scientific evidence (December 2005), our advice is that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. For people, the risk of catching the disease comes from being in close contact with live poultry that have the disease, and not through eating cooked poultry or eggs. Our current advice is based upon the opinions of scientific experts around the world including advisers to the WHO, EFSA and the ACMSF. The FSA has monitored developments since avian flu was first reported in the Far East eight years ago. During that time, most human cases have had close contact with infected birds. We continue to monitor the most up-to-date information and evidence, as it becomes available. The FSA will keep an open mind as to any information that may lead to our advice being updated. However, current scientific opinion agrees that avian flu is not a food safety risk.
What advice should I follow for touching uncooked poultry meat?
Our advice is that you should always wash your hands after handling raw poultry meat to avoid contamination from any bugs. In countries where avian influenza is present, some cases have been associated with the practice of slaughtering sick birds for food. For people in those countries, the risk of contracting the virus in this way is considered to be low, and is likely to be highest for people involved in slaughtering the birds and lowest, if it exists at all, for those preparing the birds for cooking.
Is cooking poultry and eggs likely to kill the virus?
Cooking food thoroughly will kill bacteria and viruses. Our advice is that poultry and eggs should always be cooked properly to avoid food poisoning.Follow handling and cooking instructions for cooking poultry. If you're cooking a whole chicken or other bird, pierce the thickest part of the leg (between drumstick and thigh) with a clean knife or skewer until the juices run clear. The juices shouldn't have any pink or red in them and there should be no pink meat.
I keep birds. What should I do now?
The risk remains low that we will experience and outbreak of HPAI in the near future. However, all keepers of birds will wish to be vigilant about the health of their birds. They should also consider the biosecurity guidance available on the Defra website, or through their local animal health offices. Local private veterinary advisers should also be able to advise on appropriate measures.
Should free-range poultry be locked up?
In discussion with the industry, we are content that the risk of AI spread to domestic poultry remains low and that currently, there is no need for the industry to house free-range birds. However, all keepers of poultry should plan ahead and consider how they would manage their flock and any consequent welfare problems if they were required to isolate them from wild birds e.g. in the event of a nearby outbreak of AI. For example you might wish to consider whether to prepare material for a temporary extension to your housing.
Further information is available from:
DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
Department of Health
World Health Organisation
Health Protection Agency
or from
Environmental Health - Commercial Team
Sevenoaks District Council
Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1GP
Call 01732 227450
Fax 01732 742339
e-mail environmental.health@sevenoaks.gov.uk
