What

Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is caused by a virus that normally only infects birds and in some cases pigs. In 2003 the H5N1 strain was found in people who come into contact with infected birds in Asian countries (Vietnam, China, Indonesia) that rely on avian stock economically and living among the birds in open farm markets. In January 2006 the first case was reported in the Middle East. Cases have now also occurred in ducks in Nigeria. The H5N1 variant is the same strain responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic by passing from pigs to people (swine flu). A complete history is available here.

Who is at risk
	Bird flu DOES NOT transmit from person to person as of today. Some evidence points to cats being potential carriers, probably due to their contact with birds. It was advised in 2006 that cats should be kept indoors in areas where bird flu has been found in poultry or wild birds.

What is the risk?

Killing the birds kills the virus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, buying eggs and cleaned poultry at the grocery store, cooking them properly, and eating them will not put you at risk. The concern is if an infected person gives the flu to another person. That may cause a pandemic. This would occur if the virus mutates, which they do normally, especially when infecting multiple species that come into contact with each other. The goal is to keep the infections contained to minimize this possibility.

How do they contain it?

Current containment procedures includes killing, or culling, the possibly infected birds and by restricting contact with known carriers. For anyone not living in infected areas, the same rules of prevention apply as with any poultry related concern – wash your hands with warm soapy water after contact, cook poultry and eggs according to guidelines, and sanitize anything that has come into contact with raw poultry.