Avian Flu

and
You
 What you will learn

In this course you will learn:

 What causes Flu

 Why Avian and Pandemic Flu are so dangerous

 How the infections Spreads and it Symptoms

 What precautions and preventions you can take

 When to use the Anti-viral medication, Tamiflu

Avian Flu and You

 What is the Flu?

The “flu” is a contagious respiratory illness.

It is caused by influenza viruses

There are three types of flu

 Seasonal flu

 Avian flu

 Pandemic flu

Seasonal flu viruses are only found in humans and

are transmitted person to person.

Avian Flu and You

 Differences Between Types of Flu

Some key differences between Seasonal, Avian and Pandemic Flu:

 Avian and Pandemic flu produce more severe symptoms than Seasonal flu
 Avian and Pandemic flu have a much higher risk of causing death
 Older and younger people have higher risks with Seasonal flu but with Avian
and Pandemic flu everyone is at
high risk
 Vaccines are available for seasonal flu -- not yet for Pandemic flu
 Anti-viral supplies are available for seasonal flu but may not be available for
pandemic flu

Avian Flu and You

 Avian Flu & Pandemic Flu

Avian Flu -- is a type of flu caused by a type of

influenza virus. The virus is transmitted

• birds to birds and

• birds to humans.
There is no human immunity to the avian flu.

Pandemic Flu – the virus that causes the Avian

flu can mutate. It may mutate into a form that will
allow it to be transmitted from human-to-human.
It will spread word-wide very rapidly. This is
called a pandemic.

Avian Flu and You

 Previous Flu Pandemics

Flu pandemics have struck about three times

every century since the 1500's.

During the past 100 years we have had three

Pandemics.
Year Flu Nick-name Virus Subtype US Deaths

1918 “Spanish” A (H1N1) 550,000

1957 “Asian” A (H2N2) 70,000
1968 “Hong Kong” A (H3N2) 34,000

While not yet a Pandemic, Avian flu has caused

a number of deaths.
As of May 2006 there were 208 cases of Avian Flu
resulting in 115 deaths -- a 55.3% fatality rate.

Avian Flu and You

World Health Organizations Pandemic Phases

The World Health Organization defines six stages of an

influenza pandemic. Stages depend of the spread of virus
subtypes in humans.

We are currently someplace between stages 3 and 4.

N e w V iru s in
a n im a ls , n o h u m a n
cases
P a n d e m ic A le rt
N e w V iru s C a u s e s
hum an cases
P a n d e m ic
L o w ris k to h u m a n s – 1
N o n e w s u b ty p e s d e te c te d in h u m a n s
H ig h e r r is k to h u m a n s – 2
n e w s u b ty p e s d e te c te d in h u m a n s b u t
tra n s m itte d b y a n im a ls
H u m a n in fe c tio n s ( s ) w ith a n e w s u b ty p e b u t n o 3
h u m a n - to - h u m a n s p re a d
S m a ll c lu s te r( s ) w ith lim ite d lo c a liz e d h u m a n - 4
to - h u m a n tr a n s m is s io n
L a rg e r c lu s te r (s ) b u t h u m a n - to -h u m a n s p re a d 5
s till lo c a liz e d
E ff ic ie n t a n d s u s ta in e d h u m a n -h u m a n 6
tra n s m is s io n

Avian Flu and You

 Why is it Dangerous

Avian Flu currently has a 55.3% fatality rate.

Who will be at risk? Everyone.

Severity will be great.

Historically this strain is similar to the 1918 virus strain which
resulted in world-wide deaths of about 50 million people.

Avian Flu and You

 Audio Summary and Quiz Question

Multiple choice question goes here

Avian Flu and You

 How You Become Infected

When an infected person breaths, talks, coughs or sneezes, thousands

of tiny particles containing droplet nuclei are expelled into the air.

The virus is spread by these droplets.

Droplet nuclei can remain suspended in the air for several hours,
depending on the environment.

You can contract the virus:

1. If you are within 2-3 feet of a person coughing or sneezing and you
inhale these droplets.

2. If you touch any surface where these droplets may be and then
touch your eyes/nose/face.

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Avian Flu and You

 Influenza Symptoms
People who become infected with the flu virus are likely to display
several of the following:

► Very fast onset of symptoms — over just a few hours

► General physical discomfort or psychological depression

► Chills and high fevers (100° F to 105° F) that peaks in 12–24

hours and might persist from 1 to 5 days

► Headaches, aching muscles, aching joints, pain associated

with eye movement and discomfort in bright light

► A non-productive cough and a sore throat

► An intense loss of appetite

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Avian Flu and You

 Audio Summary and Quiz Question

Multiple choice question goes here

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Avian Flu and You

 Precautions and Prevention

Recall what you learned about how you can become infected
with the influenza virus:

You can become infected:

1. If you are within 2-3 feet of a person coughing or sneezing

and you inhale infected droplets.

2. If you touch any surface where infected droplets may be and

then touch your eyes/nose/face.

The precautions and preventions we will describe apply to all

types of flu. However, they become especially important in
dealing with confirmed local cases of Avian or pandemic flu.

Here are the top six things to do:

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Avian Flu and You

 Precautions and Prevention

#1. Avoid close contact with other people

A person can be contagious before they show any flu
symptoms. This makes it difficult to know who to avoid. But if
local Avian or Pandemic flu cases have been reported –
minimize all of your contacts -- better safe than sorry.

#2. Stay home when you are sick.

When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect
them from getting sick too.

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Avian Flu and You

 Precautions and Prevention

#3. Avoid expelling contagious droplets into the air

When an infected person breaths, talks, coughs or sneezes,

thousands of tiny particles containing droplet nuclei are expelled
into the air. The virus is spread by these droplets.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough
or sneeze.

Throw the used tissue in a waste basket.

If you don't have a tissue then sneeze or cough into your sleeve.

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Avian Flu and You

 Precautions and Prevention

#4. Wash your hands frequently.

Use soap and warm, running water. Keep fingers pointing
down under the running water. Rub hands vigorously for
at least 20 seconds. Dry hands completely using a fresh
(unused) towel.

#5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Germs are often spread when a person touches something
that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or
her eyes, nose, or mouth.

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Avian Flu and You

 Precautions and Prevention

#6. Practice work-related hygiene

If you work at home or at an office, it is a good idea to:

● Keep disinfectant wipes and gels handy – use as appropriate

● Disinfect Hard Surfaces

such as Phones, Desks and Computer Keyboards

● Insure Trash Receptacles have removable plastic liners

(If not consider using a disinfectant spray)

● Keep protective personal equipment handy (including

disposable gloves and a good disposable respirator). Learn
proper removal and disposal techniques.

● Become familiar with the proper technique for using a

respirator and its limitations.

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Avian Flu and You

 Treatment Ideas

If you develop flu-like symptoms it is always best to consult a doctor.

A seasonal flu is likely to go away on its own in about 7 to 10 days.

In the meantime, you can take several steps to feel better:

* Get extra rest

* Drink plenty of fluids to replace those lost from fever.

* If fever is uncomfortable, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen

* To relieve body aches and headache, take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Do not take
aspirin if you are younger than 20 unless your doctor tells you to do so. Also, aspirin and
ibuprofen can upset your stomach, while acetaminophen does not.

* Use a decongestant or nasal spray if your main symptom is a stuffy nose. Do not use
medicated nasal sprays or drops more often than directed and not for longer than 3 days.

* Avoid antihistamines. They do not treat flu symptoms and may make nasal drainage thicker.

* Use cough drops or plain, hard candy to help ease coughing.

* Elevate your head at night with an extra pillow if coughing keeps you awake.

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Avian Flu and You

 Treatment -- Anti-viral Medications

Anti-viral medications may help in prevention (before exposure)

as well as in treatment (after infection).

Currently there are four medications that can be used against

influenza viruses.

Name Brand Name

Amantadine Sysmmatrel
Rimantadine Flumadine
Zanamavir Relenza
Oseltamivir Tamiflu

All are controlled medications that require a physician’s

prescription. There are no over the counter anti-influenza
medications.

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Avian Flu and You

 Why Tamiflu?

Tamiflu

• Of all current anti-viral medications, Tamiflu is most likely to

be effective against Avian and Pandemic flu.

• Tamiflu has the least side-effects in the general population.

• Tamiflu can be stored and remain effective for up to five
years.

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Avian Flu and You

 Tamiflu Pointers

Here are 3 reasons why it is critically important that

you do not take Tamiflu prior to a confirmed outbreak
of avian flu or a pandemic.

#1 There will simply not be enough Tamiflu for everyone

to have a full supply for themselves and their families. If
you use your supply prematurely, you may not be able to
obtain a replacement.

# 2. Over time viruses become resistant to specific and

widely used anti-viral medications. If you take Tamiflu
prematurely you will be allowing the virus to become
resistant to Tamiflu.

# 3 You should not take any prescription medication

without consulting a doctor. It certainly is possible that you
might misdiagnose yourself.

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Avian Flu and You

 When To Take Tamiflu

It is not always easy to tell the difference between a severe cold,

certain bacterial infections and the flu.

Before you take Tamiflu review this checklist.

A. Are local and national health officials confirming an outbreak of

Avian flu or a pandemic?

B. Have you (or has anyone in your household) been exposed to

someone with flu-like symptoms within the past 48 hours?

C. If I or members of my household are not able to stay at home, will

we be coming into contact with others who are likely to be infected?

D. Have I consulted with my doctor about taking the medication now?

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Avian Flu and You

 Anti-viral Medications
Remember

You should not take Tamiflu

unless there is a
confirmed outbreak
of Avian flu or a Pandemic.

Even then, you should

consult a Doctor
who is familiar with your
medical history
and household situation.

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Avian Flu and You

 Audio Summary and Quiz Question

Multiple choice question goes here

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Avian Flu and You

 Almost done!

You have almost completed this course.

Here are the final steps:

1. On the next screen we ask that you

give us your opinion about this course.

2. Following that, you can print your

course completion certificate.

3. On the final screen you will find a list

of useful references. These will help you
develop your own personalized flu plan.

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Avian Flu and You

Please give us your opinion about this course
1=Poor 10=Excellent
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Amount of information
Usefulness of Information
Accuracy of information
I would recommend this site to someone else

Suggestions, questions comments

Thank You

Click next for your “Certificate of Completion”

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Avian Flu and You

Certificate of Completion

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Avian Flu and You

 References For Further Study

A Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals & Families

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html#checklist

Antiviral Drugs and Influenza

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/antiviral/

Influenza Symptoms, Protection, and What to Do If You Get Sick

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms.htm

Cautions in Using Rapid Tests for Detecting Influenza A Viruses

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/oivd/tips/rapidflu.html

Selecting the "Right" Respirator

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/infectioncontrol/rpp/
respselect.html

NOTE: This page should be outside of the course. From time to time it will be
updated by affiliated. The actual course will need to contain a link to this page.
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Avian Flu and You