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| It's extremely rare for the H5N1 virus to pass from birds to mammals, ©The HSUS |
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For a human H5N1 pandemic to occur, the avian influenza virus would need to mutate into a virus that is easily transmissible between humans. In its current state, the H5N1 is almost exclusively a bird disease and it's extremely rare for the virus to pass from birds to humans or other mammals, although it has been documented in some cases.
In countries where the virus has been confirmed to be carried by birds, there have been some reports of sickness and death in people who work or live around chickens and other birds raised for meat, or who’ve otherwise come into contact with sick birds or bird products.
If avian influenza does arrive in your country in its current form, there are some precautions that you may want to take to help ensure that you, your pets and your family stay healthy and safe.
General Advice
- Do not abandon your pets or relinquish them to an animal shelter simply because avian flu has been detected in birds in your community. People and pets can be safe from the virus by taking simple, common-sense measures.
- Avoid physical contact with birds and their parts and products. Do not touch live, sick, or dead birds, bird feathers, or bird feces.
- Practice good personal hygiene: Wash hands with soap and running water before eating, handling food, smoking, or touching your face or eyes (especially after handling animals or coming in contact with their feces or saliva); cover your face and mouth with a tissue or cloth when you sneeze; clean potentially contaminated clothing and shoes with normal household detergents and cleaners or a 10 percent bleach solution.
- Disinfect cages or other hardware that sick animals have been in contact with by soaking in a 2-3 percent bleach solution for 10 minutes.
- Wash animal blankets with soap or a commercial detergent.
- Do not feed animals raw chicken.
- Do not feed water birds.
- Avoid areas contaminated with bird parts and products (including bodies of water where birds convene or shorelines contaminated with wild bird feces).
- Report any evidence of significant wild or domestic bird mortality (more than two or three dead birds in an area) to the appropriate government authorities as well as your local wildlife/animal authorities, agriculture authority, and health department.
Backyard Bird Feeders and Baths
The types of birds who congregate at backyard bird feeders and bird baths generally have not been found to carry the H5N1 virus. However, keeping and maintaining a wild bird feeder or bird bath may increase the risk that humans, pets, and uninfected wild birds may be exposed to the feces of H5N1-infected birds.
- If you choose to keep and maintain a bird feeder or bird bath, do not allow children or pets to come into contact with the feeder or bath or the surrounding area.
- Wear latex gloves to handle the feeder or bath, then discard the gloves and wash hands with soap and water; clean and disinfect the feeders and baths regularly with a 10 percent bleach solution.
Bird Watching
There is no risk to watching wild birds as long as general precautions are taken.
Cats
The virus can pass from cat to cat so be cautious about handling stray cats in H5N1-affected areas, and do not let your own cats come in contact with strays. Contact your local animal shelter, animal control agency, or feral cat organization for assistance with stray cats. There is currently no evidence that humans can become infected with H5N1 from cats.
- Keep cats indoors at all times to ensure that they will not come into contact with any wild birds, poultry (or their feces), cats, or other animals who might be infected.
- Be especially vigilant for dead or sick cats and report such findings to a local veterinarian, your community's health department, or animal control.
- If a cat brings a dead bird inside the house, put on latex gloves, dispose of the bird in plastic bags for collection by local wildlife/animal authorities, discard the gloves, and wash your hands.
- Consult a veterinarian if your cat shows signs of breathing trouble or nasal discharge.
- Include your cat in planning for a pandemic. Stockpile several weeks of extra supplies of your cat's food, water, litter, and any medications now, regardless of whether there is bird flu in your area or not.
Dogs
It is not clear whether dogs are susceptible to to the virus, but it is advisable to take precautions.
- Dogs should be taken outside only if restrained on a leash.
- Make sure contact between dogs and wild birds or birds in agriculture (or their feces) is avoided; don't let dogs pick up dead birds or other animals.
- Include your dog in planning for a pandemic. Stockpile several weeks of supplies of your dog's food, water, and any medications now, regardless of whether there is bird flu in your area or not.
Pet Birds
Pet birds can become infected with the H5N1 virus if they are exposed to infected birds or their parts and products.
- Keep pet birds indoors. Do not let pet birds have any contact with wild birds or their parts or products.
- Do not introduce new birds into your home; if you choose to do so, ensure new birds are quarantined and tested for avian influenza.
- Ensure that everyone who has contact with your pet birds has clean hands, clothes and shoes. Take care not to inadvertently track bird feces into your home or aviary.
- Do not share supplies or equipment with other bird owners.
- Avoid visiting other homes or places where birds are kept—you could carry disease back to your birds.
- Have your veterinarian test your birds for avian influenza and keep a record of the results.
- Include your bird in planning for a pandemic. Stockpile several weeks of extra supplies of your bird's food, water, and any medications now, regardless of whether there is bird flu in your area or not.
Visiting Farms and Markets with Live Chickens and Other Birds
- Avoid visiting farms and markets with live chickens and other birds.
- If you choose to visit such a farm or market, take precautions (see General Advice above).
Bird Hunting
Bird hunting increases the risk of exposure to the H5N1 virus. Bird hunting dogs also may be at increased risk of exposure. Humane Society International (HSI) opposes the hunting of any living being for fun, trophy, or sport.
- If you choose to hunt birds, don't eat, drink, smoke, or touch your face while handling the bird carcass.
- Wear latex gloves and washable clothing when cleaning; discard the gloves and wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol after handling the carcass.
- Wash tools and surfaces with soap and water and then disinfect with a 10 percent chlorine bleach solution.
- Cook meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of 155-165 degrees F.
Wild Bird Culling
The World Health Organization, the World Animal Health Organization, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization have jointly stated that "the control of avian influenza infection in wild bird populations is not feasible and should not be attempted."
Culling may spread the virus by dispersing infected survivors more widely. It also uses resources that could be spent on other means of controlling the spread of the virus.
- Urge authorities not to resort to culling of wild birds to control avian influenza.
Habitat Destruction
Destruction of bird habitat in order to deter potentially infected wild birds from inhabiting an area is not an acceptable means of controlling H5N1 infection. Bird habitats such as wetlands are vital components of healthy ecosystems. Destruction of habitats will only disperse birds to other areas, leading to higher bird densities in other areas and potentially facilitating spread of the virus.
- Urge authorities not to resort to habitat destruction to control avian influenza.
Updated Nov. 18, 2008.
