Is Avian Influenza transmissible to humans?
People have contracted avian flu and limited, inefficient human-to-human transmission is suspected in some cases. To date, the avian influenza viruses that have caused illness in people include the H5N1, H7N7, H7N3 and H9N2 subtypes, with H5N1 associated with the most serious illness in humans. Since January 2004, widespread outbreaks of H5N1 in birds in Asian countries have been associated with human cases and deaths in Asia. In B.C., two people were infected with avian influenza during a H7N3 outbreak in poultry in 2004. Both cases of infection followed close contact with infected poultry and contaminated materials and resulted in mild symptoms. Both people recovered fully. In February 2003, the H5N1 strain jumped from birds to infect two members (father and son) of a family from Hong Kong who had travelled to southern China. The father died but the son recovered. A third member of the family, the boy’s sister, died of a severe respiratory illness in China. An outbreak of H7N7 in the
Yes, very rarely, an avian influenza virus can also infect people. The current avian influenza virus – H5N1 – has infected some people who have caught it from having close contact with infected birds. Since December 2003, widespread outbreaks of H5N1 in birds in Asian countries have been associated with human cases and deaths in Asia. For more information on avian influenza and the significance of its transmission to humans, see the World Health Organization website http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/avian_influenza/en/index.
People have contracted avian flu and limited, inefficient human-to-human transmission is suspected in some cases. To date, the avian influenza viruses that have caused illness in people include the H5N1, H7N7, H7N3 and H9N2 subtypes, with H5N1 associated with the most serious illness in humans. Since January 2004, widespread outbreaks of H5N1 in birds in Asian countries have been associated with human cases and deaths in Asia. In B.C., two people were infected with avian influenza during a H7N3 outbreak in poultry in 2004. Both cases of infection followed close contact with infected poultry and contaminated materials and resulted in mild symptoms. Both people recovered fully. In February 2003, the H5N1 strain jumped from birds to infect two members (father and son) of a family from Hong Kong who had travelled to southern China. The father died but the son recovered. A third member of the family, the boys sister, died of a severe respiratory illness in China. An outbreak of H7N7 in the
