Join us in the fight against Zoonotic Influenza!

Avi One Health is a multilingual chatbot developed by SE-COMISCA with the support of the United States CDC to provide accurate and up-to-date information on avian influenza to the population of the SICA region.

Avi One Health offers you information about: What is avian influenza? How is the disease transmitted? What are the symptoms in humans and animals? How to prevent the disease? What to do if a case is suspected? Links to important resources and contacts.

You can access the Avi One Health chatbot through: Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and our website.

Accurate and up-to-date information: The chatbot is constantly updated with the latest information on avian influenza.

Access in multiple languages: The chatbot is available in Spanish and English.

Friendly and easy-to-use interface: You can interact with the chatbot in a natural and simple way.

Available 24/7: You can access the chatbot at any time and from anywhere.

The disease can spread from one country to another through illegal international trafficking in live birds. Migratory birds, including water and sea birds, can also carry the virus over long distances.

The incubation period is three to four days, it may vary depending on the virus strain and the affected species. It should be noted that the virus affects the respiratory tract, egg production drops, shelled eggs, edema and congestion of ridges, edema of the skin of the eyes, nervous signs, diarrhea. Consequently, a 100% death within 48 hours.

Birds infected with low-pathogenic avian influenza mostly show mild and imperceptible signs such as reduced food consumption, respiratory signs such as coughing or sneezing, or decreased egg laying. For their part, birds that get sick with highly pathogenic avian influenza show purple coloring, swelling, lack of coordination, diarrhea, among others. After rapid spread of the disease, many birds die in a short period of time.

Wild birds that transmit avian influenza viruses include waterfowl, such as ducks, geese, and swans, and coastal birds, such as storks. Avian influenza viruses can spread easily from wild birds to poultry, such as chickens and turkeys. Some wild birds can carry avian influenza viruses without appearing sick, but poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, can become seriously ill and die from some avian influenza viruses. If you raise ducks or domestic poultry, your birds can get avian influenza if they come into contact with infected wild birds or share food, water sources, and environments with them. Common songbirds or other birds commonly found in the garden, such as cardinals, robins, sparrows, blue jays, crows or pigeons, generally do not carry the avian influenza viruses that are dangerous to poultry or birds. people.​​​​​​​​

It is lethal for birds as it can cause mortality of up to 100%.

To prevent entry, it is necessary to avoid contact of domestic birds with wild birds, therefore, veterinary authorities must be notified of the presence of sick birds for timely care.

Adequate surveillance of the presence of avian influenza in birds allows us to know the subtypes of circulating avian influenza, and what is more relevant for public health, helps us to know the presence of those viruses that have a more marked zoonotic character; that is, with the possibility of presenting changes that result in greater adaptability for transmission in humans. Additionally, early detection allows countries to implement a rapid response to mitigate the risk of the virus being transmitted to people.

The slaughter of domestic birds today is one of the strategies that is recommended by both the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to control and eradicate the virus before of its spread. However, this is not the only tool, as it is also important to properly quarantine infected areas, restrict animal movements, reinforce biosecurity and carry out intense surveillance in areas near an outbreak. There is no single set of measures that works for all countries and multiple strategies must be used; each case must be analyzed based on the animal population, the epidemiological context and the availability of implementing other control actions, particularly when it comes to animals. of high ecological value.

The widespread geographic spread of A(H5N1) viruses in wild birds, poultry, and some other mammals could create additional opportunities for people to be exposed to these viruses, particularly through close or direct contact with infected animals or birds. . Therefore, there may be an increase in sporadic cases of infections in humans due to exposure to poultry or other animals, although there is no increased risk of transmission of these viruses from birds or other animals to people.

Although H5 avian influenza viruses can mainly infect different types of wild birds and domestic poultry, other animals can also be infected by H5 avian influenza viruses. Sporadic infections with the A(H5N1) virus in mammals have been reported for more than 20 years in different countries that have experienced outbreaks of the A(H5N1) virus in poultry and wild birds. H5 avian influenza viruses are known to occasionally infect mammals that eat birds or poultry (presumably infected) and mammals that are exposed to environments with high virus concentration. These mammals include, but are not limited to, wild or wild animals such as foxes, domestic or stray animals such as cats and dogs, and zoo animals such as tigers and leopards. However, both wild and domestic animals that have been exposed to H5 viruses can become infected.

Yes. Humans can be infected with the avian influenza virus. In most cases they have been in direct contact with sick poultry. Cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported, but are very rare. Clinical symptoms in people may include edema and redness of the tissues around the eyes (conjunctivitis) and flu-like signs (fever, body aches). Only in very isolated cases can death occur.

Whenever avian influenza viruses circulate among poultry, wild birds or mammals, there is a risk of sporadic infection in humans and small clusters of cases due to exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments. At the moment, cases of avian influenza in humans associated with this H5N1 epidemic are isolated.

Controlling avian influenza in birds is one way to mitigate the risk of transmission to people. Any worker who handles wild or domestic birds must have adequate knowledge about biosafety and protection, therefore it is recommended that veterinary authorities work together with the public health sector to train all people involved in poultry production, as well as those who work with wildlife.

This point is still a matter of study. However, some international studies suggest that symptoms of uncomplicated disease can last between one to two weeks.

• Fever (37.8°C or higher) or feeling feverish/chills.*

• Cough.

• Sore throat.

• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath.

• Conjunctivitis (watery eyes, redness, irritation or discharge from the eyes).

• Headaches.

• Runny nose or stuffy nose.

• Muscle and body pain.

• Diarrhea.

*It may happen that you do not have a fever

Although avian influenza A viruses generally do not cause infections in humans, very sporadic cases of human infections with these viruses have been reported. The illness in humans caused by avian influenza virus infection has varied in severity, from cases with no symptoms or mild illness to severe illness resulting in death.

As a general precaution, people should avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals infected or suspected to be infected with avian influenza virus and only observe them from a distance, if possible. Wild birds can be infected by avian influenza viruses without appearing sick. If possible, they should avoid contact with sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, domesticated birds, and other wild or domestic animals. Avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with animal feces, raw milk, animal waste, or materials contaminated by birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed avian influenza virus infection.

If you must handle wild birds or sick or dead poultry, wear gloves to minimize direct contact and wash your hands with soap and water after handling the birds. If available, use respiratory protection, such as a medical-grade mask. Change your clothing before coming into contact with poultry and other healthy domestic birds if you handled wild birds, and discard gloves and face masks and then wash your hands with soap and water.

Seasonal flu vaccines do not offer protection against these viruses.

Clinical management of hospitalized patients focuses on supportive care of complications, including advanced organ support in an intensive care unit for patients with severe pneumonia. Patients with suspected or confirmed influenza A(H5N1) infection should be treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir as soon as possible. In addition to antiviral treatment.

People should avoid unprotected exposure (without wearing respiratory protectors and eye protection) to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, domesticated birds, and other wild or domestic animals.