How to prevent avian influenza

Avian Influenza is primarily a disease affecting birds. Human infections are rare. Contact with infected birds remains the main mode of transmission. The most effective way to prevent avian influenza is to avoid contact with poultry.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to recommend that travellers to areas experiencing outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 in poultry should avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms. Large amounts of the virus are known to be excreted in the droppings from infected birds. Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their droppings, is considered the main route of human infection. There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry or poultry products can be a source of infection.

At present, there is no human vaccine against the H5N1 influenza virus. Available influenza vaccines do not protect against human disease caused by the H5N1 strain but against other circulating human strains (H1N1, H3N2, B). Trials of the H5N1 influenza vaccine are under way.