Avian Influenza

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Avian Influenza

• Larry Hollis, D.V.M., M.Ag.
• Scott Beyer, Ph.D.
• Karen Blakeslee, M.S.
• Pat Melgares, Marketing

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Avian Influenza

• Influenza A
• Low pathogenicity forms (LPAI)
• High pathogenicity forms (HPAI)
• 16 Hemagluttinin (H) subtypes
• 9 Neuraminidase (N) subtypes
• Designated HXNX

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Avian Influenza

• Only H5 and H7 subtypes are known to contain
  highly pathogenic strains

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Avian Influenza

• Usually low pathogenicity form in poultry
• Usually highly species-specific
• Seen occasionally in swine

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Avian Influenza

• 2003 poultry outbreaks that started spreading
  country-to-country
• H5N1

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Poultry Cases

• 2004
• Laos
• (Malaysia)
• (Korea)
• (Japan)

• 2003
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Korea
• Japan

PubMed Online
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Poultry Cases

• 2005
• Cambodia
• China
• Indonesia
• Kazakhstan
• Mongolia
• Romania
• Russia
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Vietnam

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Poultry or Waterfowl Cases

• 2006
• Albania
• Afghanistan
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bulgaria
• Cameroon
• Denmark
• Egypt
• France
• Germany

• Greece
• Hungary
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Italy
• Jordan
• Myanmar
• Nigeria

• Palestine
• Pakistan
• Slovenia

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Avian Influenza

• Over 300 million domestic birds dead or destroyed

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Migratory Waterfowl

• Many migratory birds from affected regions are
  now carrying the H5N1 virus

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Commercial Bird Transportation
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Bird Smuggling
National Geographic
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Human Cases

• Over 232 human cases
• China, SE Asia and Indonesia

WHO, as of July 26, 2006
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Human Cases

• Over 50 mortality rate (134/232)
• Linked to direct contact with infected birds,
  primarily during slaughter
• WHO, as of July 26, 2006

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Human Threat

• H5N1 genetic mutation that spreads as respiratory
  infection in humans, resulting in a world-wide
  pandemic

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Pandemic Requirements

• 1. New influenza subtype emerges
• 2. It infects humans, causing serious illness
• 3. It spreads easily and sustainably among humans

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Spreading Easily and Sustainably Between Humans

• Requires
• Genetic reassortment between avian and human
  influenza viruses or
• Adaptive mutation whereby avian virus learns to
  attach to human cells

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Becoming Pandemic

• H5N1 virus appears to be more pathogenic today
  than just a few years ago
• Expanding its host range, especially into more
  mammalian species
• Starting to see large migratory waterfowl die-offs

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Prevention

• Care should be taken to avoid contact with live,
  well-appearing, sick, or dead poultry and with
  any surfaces that may have been contaminated by
  poultry or their feces or secretions

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Prevention

• Avoid places such as poultry farms and bird
  markets where live poultry are raised or kept

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Prevention

• Careful and frequent handwashing is the best
  defense!

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Prevention

• Handwashing tips
• Wash before and after handing raw poultry and
  game birds
• Wash hands after handing pets
• Soap and warm/hot water, at least 20 seconds
• Waterless alcohol-based hand gels
• Use only as a supplement to handwashing

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Prevention

• Thawing frozen poultry and game birds
• Thaw in the refrigerator
• Thaw in microwave, then cook immediately
• Thaw under cold running water, then cook
  immediately

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Prevention

• Influenza viruses are destroyed by heat
• Cook all poultry and game birds to 165F
• Cook all eggs and egg dishes to 160F

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Prevention

• Avoid cross-contamination
• Keep raw poultry and game bird meat and juices
  away from ready-to-eat foods
• Do not wash raw poultry and game bird meat
• Splattered water can spread bacteria

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Prevention

• Clean and Sanitize
• Wash knives, cutting board, and countertops after
  cutting raw poultry
• Use hot, soapy water
• Sanitize cutting boards and countertops with a
  bleach solution
• 1 teaspoon bleach per 1 quart water

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Prevention

• Human vaccines are being developed and tested in
  several countries

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What is Kansas Doing?

• Gov. Kathleen Sebelius held a planning summit on
  May 31
• See the plan at www.kdheks.gov/flu/pandemic_influe
  nza_links.htm
• Click onKansas Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
  and Response Plan

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What is K-State Research and Extension Doing?

• Partnerships with state agencies
• Active Web site
• www.avianflu.ksu.edu
• Planning and preparedness checklists
• Fact sheets
• Supporting local Extension efforts

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Information UpdatesAnimal and Human Health Issues

• K-State Research and Extensions risk
  communications team is monitoring avian influenza
• www.avianflu.ksu.edu
• The U.S. government is maintaining an active Web
  site
• www.avianflu.gov

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Thank you!