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Terms & Facts
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Key Terms and Definitions
Frequently Asked Questions
Ten Things You Need to Know About Pandemic Influenza
Links to Additional Terms, Facts and Resources
Bacterial Disease: A bacteria is a one-celled organism visible only with a microscope. Less than one percent of bacteria are harmful, but when infectious bacteria enter your body, they rapidly reproduce, and many produce toxins. A bacterial disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics once the type of infectious bacteria is correctly identified.
Viral Disease: A virus is a capsule that contains genetic material, whose single mission is to reproduce. When virus invades your body, it enters some of the cells and takes over, instructing these host cells to manufacture what the virus needs for reproduction. Host cells are eventually destroyed during this process. A viral disease cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Epidemic: The occurrence of cases of an illness in a community or region which is in excess of the number of cases normally expected for that disease in that area at that time. Can refer to communicable diseases or chronic diseases.
Pandemic: A global disease outbreak, or an epidemic that has moved from country to country.
Vector: A vector-borne disease is one in which the infection-causing microorganism is transmitted from an infected individual to another individual by an arthropod (insect) or other agent, sometimes with other animals serving as intermediary hosts. Malaria is a vector-borne disease transmitted to humans from mosquitoes (vector).
Epidemiology: The branch of medicine that deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations. Epidemiology is the scientific study of factors affecting the health and illness of individuals and populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine.
Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.
Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. There is no human immunity to high path H5N1 and no vaccine is available. Currently, H5N1 cannot be transmitted from person to person, but if the virus mutates to be able to do so, a pandemic could occur.
Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu.
CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with worldwide offices and employees. The CDC, one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services, was founded in 1946 to help control malaria. It has grown into one of the most respected public health institutions in the world, and has remained at the forefront of public health efforts to prevent and control infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, workplace hazards, disabilities, and environmental health threats. www.cdc.gov
WHO: The World Health Organization is the United Nations’ specialized agency for health. Established in 1948, WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. WHO is governed by 192 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO's Member States.
Do humans have bird flu? No.
- Asian avian influenza (high pathogenic H5N1) is currently an animal health issue, not a human flu pandemic. While some humans who are in close contact with infected birds have contracted avian influenza, humans currently cannot transmit the disease to other humans, and there is not currently a flu pandemic. In fact, there is not currently a human pandemic from this virus anywhere in the world.
Can I get bird flu from another person? No.
- Asian avian influenza is a disease that has affected the bird population in some parts of the world over the past three years. A limited number of humans who have had very close contact with live, infected birds have contracted this disease. However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease has not developed the ability to pass easily to humans or from human to human.
I’ve heard on the news that bird flu is in Asia and is on the move. Is it in the United States? No.
- This type of avian influenza has never been detected in North America. Even if it were found in a bird in North America, is does not constitute a human flu pandemic. A pandemic would require the disease to take a form that could be easily transmitted from person to person.
Haven’t there been birds who have died of bird flu in the United States? Yes, but:
- The U.S. poultry industry has experienced other strains of avian influenza in the past. The industry has managed them and contained them and will do the same thing if the current Asian form of avian influenza (high pathogen H5N1) is ever found in a U.S. flock.
I really like to eat chicken, and I’m worried that I might get bird flu. Are the poultry producers doing anything about our chicken supply? Yes.
- Even though Asian avian influenza is not here, all major commercial poultry producers, including Tyson Foods are taking the necessary precautions to protect the safety of flocks and products.
- For example, Tyson has bio-security measures in place to protect the flocks from disease. The company’s chickens are housed in modern, enclosed facilities, which prevent contact with wild birds and other potential carriers of disease. Other measures include “all-in, all-out” farming, which involves moving same-age birds in and out of production houses as one group or flock. Other measures include contract producers who raise chickens for Tyson limiting who enters their farm, use of protective clothing for visitors to prevent the spread of disease and disinfecting the tires and wheel wells of vehicles.
- Tyson is testing all flocks before they leave the farm. The test results are known before the birds are shipped to a Tyson plant for processing. If the Asian strain of avian influenza was found, the birds would not go to market. By applying this program to each and every flock being produced for food, we can ensure our customers all of our flocks have tested clear of potentially hazardous forms of Avian Influenza. The company is currently conducting about 15,000 tests per week for avian influenza, which is five times the number of tests we were conducting a year ago.
Can I get bird flu or pandemic flu from eating chicken? No.
- There is no risk of contracting any form of influenza from properly cooked chicken. According to the World Health Organization and the CDC, properly cooked chicken (defined as: just as you handle and cook chicken today, minimum of 165 degrees with proper hygiene) is perfectly safe to eat, even if came from an infected bird.
Ten things you need to know about pandemic influenza
From the World Health Organization (WHO), Oct. 14, 2005
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic10things/en/
1. Pandemic influenza is different from avian influenza.
Avian influenza refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily affect birds. On rare occasions, these bird viruses can infect other species, including pigs and humans. The vast majority of avian influenza viruses do not infect humans. An influenza pandemic happens when a new subtype emerges that has not previously circulated in humans.
For this reason, avian H5N1 is a strain with pandemic potential, since it might ultimately adapt into a strain that is contagious among humans. Once this adaptation occurs, it will no longer be a bird virus--it will be a human influenza virus. Influenza pandemics are caused by new influenza viruses that have adapted to humans.
2. Influenza pandemics are recurring events.
An influenza pandemic is a rare but recurrent event. Three pandemics occurred in the previous century: “Spanish influenza” in 1918, “Asian influenza” in 1957, and “Hong Kong influenza” in 1968. The 1918 pandemic killed an estimated 40–50 million people worldwide. That pandemic, which was exceptional, is considered one of the deadliest disease events in human history. Subsequent pandemics were much milder, with an estimated 2 million deaths in 1957 and 1 million deaths in 1968.
A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza – by coughing and sneezing. Because the virus is new, the human immune system will have no pre-existing immunity. This makes it likely that people who contract pandemic influenza will experience more serious disease than that caused by normal influenza.
3. The world may be on the brink of another pandemic.
Health experts have been monitoring a new and extremely severe influenza virus – the H5N1 strain – for almost eight years. The H5N1 strain first infected humans in Hong Kong in 1997, causing 18 cases, including six deaths. Since mid-2003, this virus has caused the largest and most severe outbreaks in poultry on record. In December 2003, infections in people exposed to sick birds were identified.
Since then, over 100 human cases have been laboratory confirmed in four Asian countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam), and more than half of these people have died. Most cases have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults. Fortunately, the virus does not jump easily from birds to humans or spread readily and sustainably among humans. Should H5N1 evolve to a form as contagious as normal influenza, a pandemic could begin.
4. All countries will be affected.
Once a fully contagious virus emerges, its global spread is considered inevitable. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but cannot stop it. The pandemics of the previous century encircled the globe in 6 to 9 months, even when most international travel was by ship. Given the speed and volume of international air travel today, the virus could spread more rapidly, possibly reaching all continents in less than 3 months.
5. Widespread illness will occur.
Because most people will have no immunity to the pandemic virus, infection and illness rates are expected to be higher than during seasonal epidemics of normal influenza. Current projections for the next pandemic estimate that a substantial percentage of the world’s population will require some form of medical care. Few countries have the staff, facilities, equipment, and hospital beds needed to cope with large numbers of people who suddenly fall ill.
6. Medical supplies will be inadequate.
Supplies of vaccines and antiviral drugs – the two most important medical interventions for reducing illness and deaths during a pandemic – will be inadequate in all countries at the start of a pandemic and for many months thereafter. Inadequate supplies of vaccines are of particular concern, as vaccines are considered the first line of defense for protecting populations. On present trends, many developing countries will have no access to vaccines throughout the duration of a pandemic.
7. Large numbers of deaths will occur.
Historically, the number of deaths during a pandemic has varied greatly. Death rates are largely determined by four factors: the number of people who become infected, the virulence of the virus, the underlying characteristics and vulnerability of affected populations, and the effectiveness of preventive measures. Accurate predictions of mortality cannot be made before the pandemic virus emerges and begins to spread. All estimates of the number of deaths are purely speculative.
WHO has used a relatively conservative estimate – from 2 million to 7.4 million deaths – because it provides a useful and plausible planning target. This estimate is based on the comparatively mild 1957 pandemic. Estimates based on a more virulent virus, closer to the one seen in 1918, have been made and are much higher. However, the 1918 pandemic was considered exceptional.
8. Economic and social disruption will be great.
High rates of illness and worker absenteeism are expected, and these will contribute to social and economic disruption. Past pandemics have spread globally in two and sometimes three waves. Not all parts of the world or of a single country are expected to be severely affected at the same time. Social and economic disruptions could be temporary, but may be amplified in today’s closely interrelated and interdependent systems of trade and commerce. Social disruption may be greatest when rates of absenteeism impair essential services, such as power, transportation, and communications.
9. Every country must be prepared.
WHO has issued a series of recommended strategic actions [pdf 113kb] for responding to the influenza pandemic threat. The actions are designed to provide different layers of defense that reflect the complexity of the evolving situation. Recommended actions are different for the present phase of pandemic alert, the emergence of a pandemic virus, and the declaration of a pandemic and its subsequent international spread.
10. WHO will alert the world when the pandemic threat increases.
WHO works closely with ministries of health and various public health organizations to support countries' surveillance of circulating influenza strains. A sensitive surveillance system that can detect emerging influenza strains is essential for the rapid detection of a pandemic virus.
Six distinct phases have been defined to facilitate pandemic preparedness planning, with roles defined for governments, industry, and WHO. The present situation is categorized as phase 3: a virus new to humans is causing infections, but does not spread easily from one person to another.
Links to Additional Terms, Facts and Resources
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/general/
The official U.S. government website for pandemic influenza. A comprehensive site of information on the pandemic. Down the left side of the page are links to a wide range of information and reports. Across the top are links to planning and preparedness resources, including business, individual, school and community (among others).
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
A specific section of the above website highlighting recent and current events on the pandemic.
http://www.health.state.ok.us/program/cdd/flu/panflu.html
Oklahoma State Department of Health - Pandemic information
http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediawebserver.dyn?
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An excellent information sheet on influenza viruses and how they spread developed by the 3M Company.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic/en/
The official website of the World Health Organization (WHO) addressing the pandemic flu – includes information on the pandemic, definitions, and how to plan.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm
Key Facts about Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
http://www.avianinfluenzainfo.com/
Information on how the United States poultry industry is taking steps to keep our chicken and poultry supply safe, as well as tips on how to properly cook poultry for food.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.changenav/.c/
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The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) website on Avian Influenza. Includes information on whom to contact for sick birds, the USDA’s role in the national implementation plan, and links to news stories and additional resources. Also accessible by going to www.usda.gov and clicking on Avian Influenza in the lower right corner.
http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/pdf/S08.pdf
Provides an extensive, detailed, in depth description and explanation of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Pandemic Influenza Plan.
Format: Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4949542&sourceCode=gaw
A listing of several up-to-date reports and stories on the status of bird flu, provided by National Public Radio (NPR). Excellent resource to stay apprised of the most current information.
http://www.tyson.com/Corporate/PressRoom/AvianInfluenza.aspx
Tyson Foods’ website on Avian Influenza. Information about the United States poultry supply and how it relates to avian influenza, specific discussion of what Tyson is doing to keep meal poultry safe, and links to more information.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/15/AR2006041500901.html
A Washington Post article on the United States plan for flu pandemic.
