Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Human Cases of Avian Influenza Disease (Bird Flu)

This publication begins with an introduction to avian influenza (AI also known as avian flu or bird flu), describing how avian influenza, "a contagious poultry disease caused by type A strains of the influenza virus, may result in rapid systemic illness and death to susceptible birds. Domestic chickens and turkeys are most severely affected..." It also mentions that while AI does not normally transmit to humans, when it does it can result in "symptoms ranging from typical influenza-like symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications."

The publication also describes the epidemiology of the virus touching on the: occurrence, mode of transmission, seasonality, incubation period, period of communicability, portal of entry and exit, source of infection, and susceptibility and resistance. It provides an overview of clinical management of human cases of avian influenza and prevention and control measures.