About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

A 22-year-old woman who died on January 16 has been confirmed by the World Health Organization as Nigeria's first documented case of avian flu H5N1. The woman was from Lagos. Her mother died with similar symptoms on January 4 but was not tested for avian flu. Details as to how the 22-year-old may have acquired the disease are not yet available.

A number of other contacts have been under observation and remain well. Tests from all of these people have been negative for bird flu. Two incubation periods after exposure to the suspected bird flu case have passed, and these contacts are considered to be past the risk period for developing the illness.

Nigeria has been heavily affected by outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu since it was first detected in the country in February 2006. In January 2007, the states of Kano, Sokoto and Katsina all reported outbreaks in poultry.

International SOS is monitoring the situation closely and will update this alert as more information becomes available.

The information available to date indicates that the avian influenza virus has not yet acquired the ability to pass easily from person to person. The travel advisory is available at the bottom of this alert.

For further information, see the Latest News and the individual country pages of the International SOS Pandemic Preparedness Website. There, you can access latest news, detailed information on flu-affected countries, the risk of an influenza pandemic, and pandemic preparedness planning information.

"Avian flu" mainly affects poultry and waterfowl avian influenza A/H5N1, also known as "bird flu", is a disease that kills domestic poultry flocks. The outbreak began in several South East Asian countries has spread into Russia, Europe and Africa. Huge numbers of chickens, ducks, geese, and other domestic birds have been culled in affected countries in an attempt to slow or stop the spread of the virus. Other animal species, such as cats, dogs and pigs, can be infected; however whether they are able to infect humans is unknown. More than 50 countries have reported! cases am

Human cases so far the virus is contained in the excrement of infected birds and most people who have contracted bird flu work with or live near poultry. The human mortality rate is approximately 50 percent. At this time, the virus does not have the ability to spread easily from human to human.

Possibility of a human influenza pandemic (worldwide epidemic) Bird flu is a global concern. The A/H5N1 virus may undergo genetic changes that would allow it to spread easily from human to human. If this occurred, the world could face a global influenza epidemic (also known as a pandemic) similar to the 1917-18 Spanish Flu pandemic. Faced with this possibility, many countries and companies have begun making "pandemic preparedness plans". The disease continues to spread internationally, which appears to make the risk of a pandemic higher.

There appears to be little risk for travellers and expatriates at this time. Most or all humans infected have been in close contact with sick birds, or had unprotected contact with an infected family member.

INTERNATIONAL SOS TRAVEL ADVISORY

In affected countries:

• · Avoid live animal markets and poultry and pig farms. 
• · Do not handle sick or dead birds. 
• · Avoid and do not handle any sick animals, including cats. 
• · Avoid touching any surfaces that may be contaminated by poultry droppings, and do not swim in any body of water that is used by birds.
• · Always maintain high levels of personal hygiene. Frequent hand washing is very important. Wash hands before and after food preparation.
• · Poultry products and eggs must be thoroughly cooked before eating. Do not consume raw poultry products, such as raw duck blood. Also thoroughly cook pork products.
• · Consider having a seasonal influenza vaccination. Although this will not protect you against avian flu, it reduces the risk of seasonal influenza. Thus it reduces the chance of becoming co-infected with both seasonal and avian influenza; such co-infection could result in a pandemic strain of flu.
• · While in an affected region, seek medical attention if you develop influenza-like symptoms and you have had a significant exposure to birds, particularly sick poultry. Call the medical facility before arriving for care and alert them that you may have been exposed to avian influenza.