Avian or Bird Flu has been heavily featured in the press and on television, as has the risk of a Flu Pandemic.  There has been extensive press coverage and speculation.  At this stage there is no evidence that the disease can spread from human to human and some of the information on TV and in newspapers may have been a little confusing.  Here are a few facts that will, hopefully, make the subject a little clearer.

• Avian Flu, also known as Bird Flu, is exactly that – a disease found primarily in birds but that can, in certain circumstances, affect humans who live or work in close proximity to infected fowl.
• There is currently no evidence that Avian Flu can pass from human to human, only from infected bird to human.
• Since Boxing Day 2003 there have been less than 250 confirmed cases in the world where humans have contracted the disease.  This is a very small number when you consider the population of the Asian countries affected and the amount of poultry and wild fowl kept there.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Could Avian Flu ever pass from human to human?
  • Not in its current form, it is a bird disease.  However, if a person or animal caught bird flu, and at the same time has “ordinary” flu, there is a chance the two could mix, mutate and produce a brand new virus that could then pass from human to human.  It would be under those circumstances that a Pandemic might occur.
• What is a Flu Pandemic?
  • This is where there is a new flu virus, previously unknown and therefore without any natural immunity in the body and where no vaccination exists to prevent it, spreads throughout the world.
• Is it certain that Avian Flu will evolve and cause a Pandemic?
  • No, it could happen due to the evolution of any flu virus, including those we are expecting as part of our normal “flu season”, or indeed it might not happen at all, although looking at history it is statistically likely to occur within the next few years.  The spread of Avian Flu to more humans does increase the risk it may mutate and become able to spread from human to human.  It increases the risk but it does not guarantee it will happen.
    
    Should either an outbreak of Avian Flu or a Flu Pandemic occur, Worthing Borough Council, together with the Primary Care Trust, the Health Protection Agency, West Sussex County Council and the emergency services have plans in place locally to mitigate and respond and recover from any disease based challenge regardless of whether it affects animals or people.
• What should I do if I find a dead bird?
  • Full advice is available on the DEFRA website.

Useful websites

(All links below to external websites open in a new browser window.  Worthing Borough Council is not responsible for the content of external websites.)

• Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Department of Health
• UK Resilience
• Sussex Health Emergency Planning
• NHS Direct

Useful documents on our website

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