Frequently Asked Questions About Avian Flu

What is Avian Influenza?
Avian Influenza or the “bird flu”, is a disease usually affecting the birds population, caused by the group of viruses called the Avian Flu virus. The current bird flu is caused by the H5N1 strain of the Avian Flu virus.

What is the concern?
Although traditionally affecting only the bird population (chicken, duck, migratory birds, etc), avian flu has been found in humans who have been in close contact with sick birds. Moreover, once a person has been infected, the mortality rate is fairly high, ranging from 50-75%. Statistics are still being gathered regarding the death rate at this time.

Another concern involves the spread of the disease. At this time, it is believed that only persons who come into close contact with sick birds become infected, because the virus does not spread from person to person easily. However, the virus mutates frequently and if it mutates into a form that spreads easily from person to person, then there is a chance that many people will become infected.

If this were to happen, then the much feared pandemic will occur. In the pandemics in the past, 25-35% of the world’s population have become infected.

In which countries have human cases of Avian Flu been found? How about in Vietnam?

So far, eight countries have confirmed cases of Avian Flu in their bird population, they are: Vietnam, Japan, China, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Korea. Human cases have been found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Up to now, in Southeast Asia, more than 130 people have been infected, and 69 have died. In Vietnam, avian flu cases have been reported in 17 out of the 64 provinces, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.