Markets where live birds are sold can also be a source of bird flu. Avoid visiting these markets if you're travelling to countries that have had an outbreak of bird flu.
You can check health advice for the country you're visiting on the TravelHealthPro website. You can't catch bird flu through eating fully cooked poultry or eggs, even in areas with an outbreak of bird flu. If you're visiting a foreign country that's had an outbreak you should:. It usually takes 3 to 5 days for the first symptoms to appear after you've been infected. Within days of symptoms appearing, it's possible to develop more severe complications such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Getting treatment quickly, using antiviral medicine, may prevent complications and reduce the risk of developing severe illness. Call a GP or NHS if you experience any symptoms of bird flu and have visited an area affected by bird flu in the past 10 days. Contact your travel insurance company if you need advice about where to get help.
If it's thought you might have symptoms of bird flu you'll be advised to stay at home, or you'll be cared for in hospital in isolation from other patients. You may be given an antiviral medicine such as oseltamivir Tamiflu or zanamivir Relenza.
Antiviral medicines help reduce the severity of the condition, prevent complications and improve the chances of survival. They are also sometimes given to people who have been in close contact with infected birds, or those who have had contact with infected people, for example family or healthcare staff.
Bird flu is a notifiable disease in animals, so you should report any suspected case in animals to the Animal and Plant Health Agency APHA , even if you're not sure.
Since its widespread re-emergence in , rare, sporadic human infections with this virus have been reported in Asia, and later in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Human infections with Asian H5N1 viruses have been associated with severe disease and death. Most human infections with avian influenza viruses, including HPAI Asian H5N1 viruses, have occurred after prolonged and close contact with infected birds.
Rare human-to-human spread with this virus has occurred, but it has not been sustained and no community spread of this virus has ever been identified. The H5N1 virus recently detected in U. Flu viruses are constantly changing and animal flu viruses can change such that they may gain the ability to infect people easily and spread among people, causing a pandemic. Human infections with novel avian influenza virus like Asian H5N1 are concerning because of this pandemic potential.
CDC takes routine public health preparedness measures whenever a virus with pandemic potential is identified. Because Asian H5N1 continues to circulate and has been responsible for a number of human infections, Asian H5 preparedness efforts have been extensive. Asian H5N1 vaccine is being stockpiled for pandemic preparedness by the United States government.
The Australian Government is stockpiling Relenza and Tamiflu, two drugs that may be used in the treatment of human cases of bird flu. In the case of an outbreak in humans, these drugs would be used to maintain essential services, prevent transmission and provide treatment for people who are already ill. A vaccine against bird flu is in development, but is not currently available. The current influenza vaccines will not protect humans against bird flu.
People making short visits to affected countries do not need to have antiviral medications. However Australians living in countries affected by bird flu should consider having access to a supply of antiviral medications to be used on medical advice. This may include having a supply of antiviral medications in their home, particularly if they live some distance from urban centres and cannot therefore ensure access to antiviral medications stored locally.
Be aware of the risk of bird flu if you are travelling to, or living in, a country where outbreaks are occurring in birds or humans. Suggestions include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:.
Anthrax is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease that occasionally infects humans. The Western obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as rhinitis. Careful prescribing of antibiotics will minimise the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. Aspergillus is a fungus that commonly grows on rotting vegetation. It can cause asthma symptoms.
The simplest form of prevention for lyssavirus is to avoid close contact with bats. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Infections. Bird flu avian influenza. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet.
On this page. How avian influenza virus is spread Symptoms of bird flu Complications of bird flu Tell your doctor if you have been to a country where there is bird flu Influenza viruses can mutate Australia is ready to respond to an outbreak Treatment and vaccines for bird flu Advice for travellers and Australians living overseas Where to get help Things to remember.
How avian influenza virus is spread Water birds such as wild ducks are believed to be the carriers of all avian influenza type A viruses. Symptoms of bird flu Although there have been too few human cases to determine the exact incubation period of bird flu, it would be expected to be from three to 10 days.
The symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to those of regular influenza and include: fever sore throat cough headache aching muscles. Complications of bird flu Bird flu in humans can cause a range of serious and potentially fatal complications, including: eye infections pneumonia, including viral pneumonia acute respiratory distress inflammation of the brain and heart.
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