Frequently asked questions
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What is the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus that has been reported in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Near East?
Influenza A (H5N1) virus – also called “H5N1 virus” – is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. Human cases of influenza A (H5N1) infection have been reported in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. For the most current information about avian influenza and cumulative case numbers, see the
World Health Organization Avian Influenza website.
What are the risks to humans from the current H5N1 outbreak?
If H5N1 virus were to gain the capacity to spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin. No one can predict when a pandemic might occur. However, experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation in Asia and Europe very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily from person to person.
Can I get avian influenza from eating or preparing poultry or eggs?
There currently is no scientific evidence that people have been infected with bird flu by eating safely handled and properly cooked poultry or eggs. The U.S. government carefully controls domestic and imported food products, and in 2004 issued a ban on importation of poultry from countries affected by avian influenza viruses, including the H5N1 strain. This ban still is in place.
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