Avian influenza — known informally as avian flu or bird flu — refers to “influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.” Most human contractions of the avian flu are a result of either handling dead infected birds or from contact with infected fluids.
The Health Protection Agency is providing expert support and advice to the National Public Health Service for Wales after an H7N2 avian influenza infection was found in birds on a small farm in north Wales. The Agency has carried out tests on specimens from nine people associated with the incident; seven are from Wales and two were from north west England.
As a precaution, pupils in Years 5 and 6 at Ysgol Henllan, Denbighshire, are offered tamiflu to protect them from the very slight risk of infection with the H7 virus.
Cases of the H7 flu virus have been identified following the discovery of avian flu at a smallholding near Corwen in North Wales, UK. 12 avian flu contacts had been identified who have or have had symptoms of a flu like illness or conjunctivitis. No one is seriously ill.
The World Health Assembly (WHA), the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), wrapped-up its sixtieth session, reaching last-minute agreement on two key resolutions on Pandemic influenza preparedness and Public health, innovation and intellectual property.
A 19-year-old Chinese soldier has been hospitalized with the H5N1 bird flu strain, the Chinese Health Ministry reported in a statement.
Four people have tested positive for bird flu after an outbreak of the avian flu virus on a North Wales farm in UK, reported by British health authorities.
The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 5-year-old female from Wonogiri district, Central Java Province developed symptoms on 8 May, was hospitalized on 15 May and died in hospital on 17 May.
The United Nations food agency has said the bird flu situation in Bangladesh remains serious and sought a long-term strategic campaign to bring the deadly disease under control.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that the bird flu situation in Bangladesh remains serious and called for action to get it under control.
The bird flu situation in Bangladesh remains serious and the country will have to engage in a long-term strategic campaign against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in order to get the spreading H5N1 virus under control, said the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).