Malacañang reassures public vs avian flu

The public was reassured by the Malacañang on Saturday that steps are being undertaken to prevent the entry of avian influenza virus in to the country.

A Malacañang official said that an inter-agency task force is monitoring the entry of people as well as livestock from abroad.

In a radio interview, the official said that the health department and the agriculture department are ready to handle avian flu cases.

Thermal scanners had been set up anew at the airports.

The alertness for the avian flu follows Hong Kong's report of its first human case since 2003 when a 59-year-old woman after returning from a trip to mainland China tested positive for Influenza A (H5).

Hong Kong said Saturday that there is no sign of the virus spreading among humans.

According to the Department of Health of the Philippines, avian influenza or bird flu is a contagious disease of birds that can be mild to severe.

The disease which is caused by influenza A/H5N1 virus could cause severe infection in humans.

Human transmission is through inhalation or contamination with infected discharges or by fecal contamination of sick chicken.

Signs and symptoms include fever, body weakness or muscle pain, cough, sore throat, sore eyes, diarrhea, and in severe cases, difficulty of breathing a week after onset of symptoms.

Treatment includes antivirals like Oseltamivir, which can stop disease progression if administered within the first two days from the onset of fever.

The following procedures stop the virus from spreading;

1. Thorough hand washing with soap and water before and after handling live and dressed chicken.

2. Thorough cooking of chicken.

3. Do not put live chickens, ducks, and pigs together in one cage or pen area.

4. Stay away from captured wild birds.

5. Use protective clothing like gloves, masks, goggles when handling sick chickens or dead birds.

6. Report to agricultural or veterinary authorities any unusual death of illness of chickens or other birds.

7. Report to the nearest health center for any case of respiratory illness with history of exposure to sick chickens or other birds.

Click here for more details.