Q:  How do people become infected with avian influenza viruses?

Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds. The spread of avian influenza viruses from an ill person to another person has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person. During an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry, there is a possible risk to people who have direct or close contact with infected birds or with surfaces that have been contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds.

Q:  How are avian, pandemic, and seasonal flu different?

Pandemic Flu: Currently there is no pandemic flu. A flu pandemic is a global outbreak that occurs when a new influenza A virus causes serious human illness and spreads easily from person to person.
Avian Flu: Bird flu is caused by avian influenza viruses, which occur naturally among birds.
Seasonal Flu: The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Q: Why is there concern about the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Asia and other countries?

Health experts have been monitoring a new and extremely severe influenza virus, H5N1 strain, for almost eight years. The H5N1 strain first infected humans in Hong Kong in 1997, causing 18 cases, including six deaths. Since mid-2003, the virus has caused the largest and most severe outbreaks in poultry on record. In December 2003, infections in people exposed to sick birds were identified.

Since then, over 100 human cases have been laboratory confirmed in four Asian Countries ( Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia), and more than half of these people have died. Most cases have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults. Fortunately, the virus does not jump easily from birds to humans or spread readily and among humans. Should H5N1 evolve to a form as contagious as normal influenza, a pandemic could begin.

The H5N1 virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because:

• The H5N1 virus is widespread in poultry in many countries in Asia and has spread to Europe:
• The virus has been transmitted from birds to mammals an in some limited circumstances to humans;
• Wild birds and domestic ducks have been infected without showing symptoms and become carriers of viral infection to other domestic poultry species;
• A few cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported; and
• Genetic studies confirm that H5N1 influenza viruses, like other influenza viruses, are continuing to evolve.

Q: What are some key terms I need to know?

Avian Influenza (or “bird flu”) -   An influenza virus subtype that infects birds.  Avian viruses played a role in the last three human influenza pandemics in 1918, 1957, and 1968.  They are considered a likely reservoir for emerging viruses that could trigger a pandemic.

Continuity of Operations – The capability to continue performing essential functions and services in the event of a disruption to normal operations.

Epidemic – A pronounced clustering of cases of a disease within a short period of time.

Essential Employees – Those employees identified as being necessary for the continued performance of essential functions and services.  Agencies must inform employees identified as essential in advance, so that they can be prepared to support and sustain essential USDA functions and services during a pandemic.  Essential employees are expected to remain in contact with their agencies during any emergency.

Essential Functions and Services – Functions and services that are absolutely necessary for USDA to continue during an influenza pandemic, such as those that are critical to survival and recovery or are critical to maintaining the safety and security of the food supply or the health of American citizens.  Because of the nature of USDA’s work, it is important to note that there may be significant seasonal variations in essential functions and services.  USDA plans must take into account these seasonal fluctuations when determining essential functions and services (for example, an essential function in June may not be an essential function in January).  During a pandemic, it may be necessary to shift human capital resources across offices, geographic boundaries, and agency and mission area lines in order to leverage resources and accomplish USDA’s essential functions and services.

Influenza – Influenza, or flu, is a viral respiratory disease spread mainly by tiny droplets that are released when an infected person sneezes or coughs.  Seasonal flu outbreaks occur most often in late fall and winter.  Once people have been infected by a certain strain of flu, they develop immunity.  However, with many different types of flu virus circulating around the world, each year the world may be faced with new strains causing seasonal flu.  The flu virus continually changes, mutates, and evolves into new forms.

Pandemic – A worldwide epidemic.

Pandemic Influenza – A worldwide outbreak of a new influenza virus that infects and can be transmitted between humans, and to which humans have little or no immunity.

Phase – The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined six “Phases” (1 to 6) before and during a pandemic that are linked to characteristics of a new influenza virus and its spread through the population.  See Appendix B.  The six phases represent a starting point for discussion of Government action.

Social Distancing – Infection control strategies that reduce the duration, frequency, or intimacy of social contacts in order to limit the transmission of influenza.  Social distancing may include, for example, increased use of telework, placing employees on shifts, use of face masks, closing offices or buildings, and canceling of large gatherings.

Stage – In order to describe the Federal government approach to pandemic preparedness and response, the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza defined seven “Stages” (0 to 6) of an outbreak in terms of the immediate and specific threat to the U.S. population.  Progressively higher Stages trigger specific actions in USDA’s pandemic plan.

Telework – Working at locations other than the workplace, such as an employee’s home or at a telework center, using telecommunications (computer access)

Wave – A period during which an outbreak of pandemic influenza occurs within a specific community or a larger geographic area.  Waves include periods of time of rapid increase of disease occurrence, peak occurrence, and decline toward more normal levels.  Waves can last several weeks to several months.  An influenza pandemic would be expected to occur in several waves.