What can be done to protect the public from avian flu?
Avian flu can strike poultry quickly without any warning signs of infection. Once flu infects a poultry flock, it frequently becomes established, and it can spread rapidly from flock to flock. For these reasons, the government has introduced restrictions on live bird and poultry imports from countries with ongoing avian flu outbreaks. Moreover, federal and state animal health officials work with the poultry industry to carefully monitor breeding flocks, slaughter plants, live bird markets, livestock auctions, and poultry dealers. Because of the possibility of bird-to-human transmission of the virus, guidelines have been developed for persons who have contact with infected birds and/or contaminated surfaces. These guidelines can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/index.htm. Poultry producers should strengthen biosecurity practices to prevent the introduction of avian flu into their flocks, be aware of the clinical signs of the avian flu in birds, and report suspicious
