Avian Flu Information

Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds.  The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available.

On Tuesday, May 9 at 8:00pm, the ABC television network (WCVB-5 in our area) will air a made-for-TV movie titled Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America.  The movie follows an outbreak of the avian flu virus from its origins in a Hong Kong market through its mutation into a pandemic virus that becomes easily transmittable from human to human and spreads rapidly around the world.  It is important to remember that this movie is fictional, and is not based on an actual event that has occurred.

Please visit the links below for more information.

• Questions and answers about the ABC movie and the bird flu
• Department of Health and Human Services flu information

Information on this page courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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