News/Commentary

The story below reports the first bird flu death in China in almost a year. The BBC quotes the World Health Organization (WHO) as saying that it regrets the death but that that does not change its risk assessment.

But what does WHO recommend?

What Can You Do? 

Were there to be an outbreak, there would be specific advice about eating, drinking, sewage handling and a host of related topics.

There is one step that never is a mistake, action which always is smart.

You will see below that—and do not make the mistake of dismissing this—is that rigorous hand-washing (details provided) is a major way to reduce the transmission of avian (and any other) kind of influenza.

Please read this carefully. Please start making this kind of hand-washing a daily method.

It will help protect you and yours, whatever form of more dangerous bugs appear.

BBC

“China has issued an alert against bird flu following the death of a 19-year-old woman from the disease.

“The woman died after she came into contact with poultry in a market in central Hebei province.

“Since the outbreak of bird flu in 2003, 21 people in China have died. Worldwide, 247 people have died.

“But this is China’s first bird flu death in almost a year, and the authorities here have reacted by declaring a bird flu alert.

“Officials have shut down and disinfected poultry markets in Hebei.

“In a statement the World Health Organization said it was concerned by the death of the 19-year-old woman, Huang Yanqing.

“But it said this single case did not change its risk assessment.”

One case of bird flu in China has been reported.

World Health Organization

The following text is directly from the WHO website, which offers disease tracking information and a host of other tools for professionals. Most of it can be understood by a layperson.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

“What is the role of hygiene in facilities treating patients infected with the avian influenza virus?
Presently, sound evidence on exact modes of human transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses is lacking. It is believed that multiple modes of transmission exist (large droplet, small particle aerosol, hand-contamination and self-inoculation, and possibly oral contamination), but their relative importance in sporadic highly pathogenic avian influenza infections is uncertain. Furthermore, if the virus changes to become more readily transmissible from person to person, the importance of particular practices may change.

“Given the uncertainty about the exact modes by which the avian influenza virus, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, may be transmitted between humans, enhanced infection control precautions for patients with suspected or confirmed avian influenza infection are warranted. There is the need to minimize infection opportunities because every infection presents a chance of genetic mutation that might give rise to pandemic virus. In hospital settings, it is important to protect both patients and health-care workers from the avian influenza infection.

“Strong hygiene practices are always a critical component of infection control. Of these practices, hand hygiene and surface cleaning are among the simplest and most cost-effective ways to prevent transmission of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

“What hygiene practices require specific attention?
“Hand hygiene is a prerequisite to prevent the transmission of many infectious diseases. In environments where the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus may be present, hand hygiene, which includes hand washing and the use of alcohol-based hand rubs, is critical to prevent possible viral inoculation of the nose, mouth and conjunctivae by contaminated hands. Hand hygiene is also necessary to prevent the transmission of nosocomial infections to other patients and healthcare workers. Pathogens are removed by the mechanical action of hand washing. Alcohol disinfects (kills the pathogens). If hands are visibly dirty, washing with soap and water is required prior to disinfection. Otherwise, alcohol-based preparations or washing are both appropriate.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often, especially: before, during, and after you prepare food; before you eat; after you use the toilet; after handling animals or animal waste; when your hands are dirty; and more frequently when someone in your home is sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Infections are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with microorganisms and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

“For soiled surfaces, cleaning MUST precede disinfection. Items and surfaces cannot be disinfected if they are not first cleaned of organic matter (patients’ excretions, secretions, dirt, soil, etc). Potent disinfectants are not required to kill influenza viruses, common soaps and dilute household bleach are generally adequate.

“Use cleaning methods that do not produce aerosols (e.g. use wet dusting methods instead of feather dusting) to mitigate any potential risk for virus transmission through direct inoculation (e.g. via inhalation or direct impact) into the respiratory (e.g. nose) or conjunctival mucosa. In healthcare settings, standard precautions are recommended for cleaning linen and laundry and managing clinical or nonclinical waste that may be contaminated with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. (Emphasis added)

“What is the role of personal hygiene in responding to the threat of pandemic influenza?
“To date, human infections with the avian influenza viruses detected since 1997 have not resulted in sustained human-to-human transmission. If the current avian influenza H5N1 virus changes to produce a strain that is more transmissible among humans, it could signal the start of a pandemic. Strengthening personal hygiene practices to reduce human to human transmission will help stop or slow the spread of a pandemic virus.

“Personal hygiene includes individual practices that serve to promote or preserve health such as habits of cleanliness. In the case of highly contagious diseases such as influenza, special attention should be paid to personal behaviour in community settings as well as the household. Public education, including public health messages, is an important part of national and local planning for pandemic influenza.

“Should special personal hygiene precautions be taken in the home or at schools?
“While WHO has guidance for issues such as personal hygiene, primarily for health-care workers, such guidance is based on general transmission patterns of seasonal human influenza. It is not known how effective this guidance would be in slowing the spread of a pandemic from a new virus strain.

“However, there are basic good health habits that will help reduce the spread of influenza virus in the home or community settings. These include:

“Cleaning and disinfection of household surfaces likely to be contaminated by infectious secretions appears worthwhile. However, presently, there is no evidence to support the efficacy of widespread disinfection of the environment or air.

“As part of pandemic influenza planning, special attention should be given to teaching staff, children, and their parents on how to limit the spread of infection. Programmes should already be teaching these things (e.g. use good hand washing; cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing; and clean toys frequently) to build habits that protect children from disease in general.

“For further general information on avian influenza please refer to the specific pages on avian influenza on the Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response web site”

Source: BBC, January 7, 2009

Source: World Health Organization