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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffBird flu occurs naturally in wild waterfowl and can spread into domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. The disease is transmitted via contact with an infected bird's feces, or secretions from its nose, mouth or eyes.
Open-air markets, where eggs and birds are sold in crowded and unsanitary conditions, are hotbeds of infection and can spread the disease into the wider community.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, bird flu cannot be transmitted by eating properly cooked poultry meat or eggs from infected birds. Poultry meat is safe to eat if it's been cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F (74 C). Eggs should be cooked until the yolk and white are firm.
- Key facts about avian influenza (bird flu) and highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm. Accessed Sept. 21, 2011.
- Jones K. Influenza, avian. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&about=true&uniqId=230100505-53. Accessed Sept. 21, 2011.
- Avian influenza: Fact sheet. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/avian_influenza/en/index.html. Accessed Sept. 21, 2011.
- Treanor JJ. Avian influenza. In: Mandell JE, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..X0001-X--TOP&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Stephenson I. Avian influenza vaccines. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Stephenson I. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of avian influenza. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- What consumers need to know about avian influenza. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm085550.htm. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Stephenson I. Epidemiology, transmission and pathogenesis of avian influenza. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) reported to WHO. http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/H5N1_cumulative_table_archives/en/index.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Key facts about influenza (flu) and flu vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Questions and answers about avian influenza (bird flu) and avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Stephenson I. Treatment and prevention of avian influenza. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- H5N1 influenza virus vaccine questions and answers. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/QuestionsaboutVaccines/ucm080753.htm. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
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