The H5N1 strain of influenza A, also known as avian flu or “bird flu”, has steadily evolved since 1997. As of 2007, the World Health Organization has confirmed 319 cases of avian flu in humans, 192 of which resulted in death.

Avian flu is transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected poultry. Steps have been taken by several Asian countries to keep the avian flu from becoming a pandemic, including poultry vaccinations and efforts to keep domestic birds away from migratory birds. Cats also are a new point of focus, since several have died from avian flu, and are one of the few animals that have direct contact with both birds and humans.

The current estimation for a global pandemic states that as much as 20 percent of the world’s population could succumb to avian flu. Because of the limited number of instances of human-to-human transmission of the disease, the timeline for this pandemic has been pushed further and further away.

However, it is important to understand all the facts about avian flu, and to be fully prepared when it strikes. For more information, please contact us - Flu Busters is here to help.