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Precautionary Measures Against Avian Influenza |
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Monday, 27 February 2006 |
MERCY Malaysia urges Malaysians to take precautions over the current
Avian influenza epidemic. Avian influenza, otherwise known as Bird flu
is a highly infectious disease among birds and occasionally in pigs.
But recent reports have shown Influenza A ( H5N1) virus subtype is
infecting humans and warning flags have been raised.
MERCY Malaysia is currently aware that the Avian Influenza (Bird flu) is now right at our doorstep and is currently monitoring the situation closely. MERCY Malaysia is currently participating in a conference on “Avian Flu, Role of Civil Society”, organised by South East Asia Regional Delegation of International Federation of Red Crescent and Red Crescent Society in Bangkok, Thailand.
What is Avian influenza?
/chicken_120.jpg "chicken_120") Avian influenza, otherwise known as Bird flu is a highly infectious disease among birds and occasionally in pigs. It viruses is normally found in wild birds but deadly to certain domesticated bird such as chickens and ducks. However, Influenza A viruses are constantly changing and they might mutate over time to infect and spread among humans. World health authorities are highly concerned over this fact due to the Influenza virus are highly adaptable and once the Influenza A (H5N1) virus subtype mutates to infect humans, there is a possibility of a global pandemic occurring.
Authorities have confirmed that the Avian flu virus found in Setapak is the Influenza A (H5N1) virus subtype like the one found in Indonesia. The H5N1 virus subtype is the cause of most of the current outbreaks and is very alarming for human health.
Although reportedly contagious, it is rare for the virus to spread inter species. The virus normally infects only birds and less commonly, pigs. The WHO reports that “all available evidence indicates that the virus does not spread easily from poultry to humans.” However, there are now more than a 100 confirmed human cases of the Avian influenza. Causes of infections are mostly from contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated with secretion or excretions from infected birds.
As for now, MERCY Malaysia urges fellow Malaysians to take proper precautionary measures.
Food Safety
• Poultry (chicken, ducks etc) cooked at 70°C and above are safe to consume.
• Eggs should be thoroughly cooked; eggs should not be consumed raw or partially cooked (no runny yolk); uncooked eggs should not be used in foods that will not be cooked, baked or heat-treated in other ways.
• Refrigerating or freezing poultry will not kill the Influenza A (H5N1) virus, if present.
• The highest risk of exposure is during slaughter, defeathering, butchering and preparation of live infected poultry.
• It is vital to have good hygiene to prevent cross contamination from raw poultry to other food, utensils and equipment.
• Use rubber or disposable latex gloves, wash hands thoroughly, and clean knives, equipments and work surfaces that come in contact with poultry.
Symptoms
(Highly similar to human influenza symptoms)
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Sore Throat
• Cough
• Eye Infection
• Muscle aches
• Headaches
• Pneumonia
• Breathing Problems
Countries that have confirmed reports on Avian Influenza A (H5N1) human infections are in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Iraq. While, reported H5N1 virus infections in poultry or wild birds are in the said countries including Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Malaysia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Hergegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran, India and Kazakhstan (WHO report, 27 Feb 2006)
Sources: WHO, CDC, FOA and the Star newspaper
Image courtesy of ThaiPro Search Engine - www.thaipro.com/thailand_00/221_bird_flu_disease.htm
For more information, visit these following websites
World Health Organisation - www.who.org
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations- www.foa.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - www.bt.cdc.gov
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