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Influenza, also called “flu,” is an illness caused by a virus. The common flu symptoms are fever, headache, sore throat, cough, and muscle ache. Yearly flu season occurs during fall and winter. It is spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing and the sharing of beverages and eating utensils.
Flu can be a serious illness. Every year, many people in the United States are hospitalized or die from the flu. Each season a vaccine is available to help protect people from the virus. The Cambridge Public Health Department sponsors vaccine clinics each year. People should get flu vaccines yearly because every season’s virus is different from the past season.
A pandemic occurs when an illness becomes widespread because it is easily passed from one human to another. In the past 100 years, there have been three flu pandemics. A pandemic virus strain is likely to affect more people because humans have not previously been exposed to this particular virus. The pandemic most often discussed is the pandemic of 1918 in which about 500,000 people died in the United States. The 1918 pandemic virus was particularly infectious. The pandemic viruses of 1957 and 1968 were milder in comparison to the 1918 virus, and caused fewer deaths.
Avian flu is another name for bird flu. It causes illness and death in birds. Infection from this kind of flu is extremely rare in humans and other mammals, including cats. Although it is possible for bird flu to infect people, it is the result of direct, close contact with infected birds. The avian flu that is in the news is known by scientists as H5N1. This flu has infected billions of wild birds and poultry in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. To date, H5N1 has not been found in wild birds or poultry in the United States or North America.
There have been a relatively small number of people who have gotten this flu. These infections are caused by close, direct contact with infected birds. There are no documented cases of avian flu in people or birds in North America. It is not considered a pandemic because so few people have gotten the disease and it is not easily passed between humans.
The best precaution is to avoid direct contact with infected and dead birds. To date, avian flu has not been found in Massachusetts in birds or humans. It is safe to eat properly cooked poultry products, including eggs.
The flu is most often passed by direct contact with the hands or mouth of a person who has flu, as well as by sneezing and coughing. The best way to avoid getting or giving cold or flu germs is to wash your hands frequently and never share drinking glasses or eating utensils. Never cough or sneeze into your bare hands. You can cover a cough or sneeze with your forearm instead.
Avian flu in cats in Europe is caused when cats kill infected birds. The best precaution is to keep your cat indoors. Pet birds should also be kept indoors, away from wild birds.
At this time there are no documented cases of H5N1 in birds in Massachusetts. There are many possibly reasons for bird-related deaths. The best precaution is to keep your distance from dead or sick birds. If you encounter a sick or injured bird on either public or private property, notify the City’s Animal Control Officer at 617-349-4376. If a dead bird is found on public property, please call the Department of Public Works at 617-349-4800.
A dead bird on your property should either be left alone or disposed of by wearing disposable protective gloves, and placing the bird in a plastic bag, taking care not to contaminate the outside of the bag. Place the bag in a second bag along with the disposable gloves. This bag should then be placed in a trash can for removal. Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic bag. Thoroughly wash your hands using warm water and soap following disposal of the bird.
Testing of dead birds will not be conducted by the Cambridge Public Health Department.
Prepare as you would for any other emergency or disaster. Have at least a three-day food and water supply for each person in your home. Remember to plan for your pets. Have a first aid kit with personal products and prescription medications. Develop a family communication plan. Know where you’ll meet in an emergency. Have emergency supplies ready in your car or a backpack in case you must evacuate. Periodically review your plans with everyone in your household.
For updated information, please call the Cambridge Public Health Department Flu Information Hotline at 617-665-3855.
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
Massachusetts Depart. of Public Health
Flu Wiki
posted on May 9, 2006 |
