How do people become infected with avian influenza viruses?
• Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds. • The spread of avian influenza viruses from an ill person to another person has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person. • During an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry, there is a possible risk to people who have direct or close contact with infected birds or with surfaces that have been contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds.
Dr. David Swayne SE Poultry Labs, Bird Fly Research & Issues U.S. Department of Agriculture Avian influenza viruses are spread by moving infected birds between farms or moving contaminated equipment or people moving with contamination of their shoes or clothing. And there are really two types of products that are the source of that infection. One is the fecal material from infected birds contains a virus, and number two is the respiratory secretions, things that are coughed up or come out of the nose. To this point the studies that have been done in Asia and Africa have identified direct, close contact with infected live or dead poultry as the source of infection for those people.
