How to Prevent the Bird Flu

As viruses are, by their very nature, difficult to treat, the best way to counter the effects of the bird flu is to prevent it altogether. There are a number of common-sense and not-so-common-sense things you can do to limit your and your children's exposure to the virus that causes avian influenza. Read on to learn how to prevent the bird flu.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Flu shot
• Antimicrobial soap

Protect Your Children From the Bird Flu

1. Watch where your kids are playing. Avoid areas that have visible bird droppings present, as children may unknowingly come into contact with infected excrement during playtime.
2. Keep your kids' hands out of their mouths. This is a common way that children become infected with illnesses of all sorts, including the bird flu.
3. Wash your child's hands regularly, especially after outdoor play during the spring or summer months. Most childhood bird flu cases occur during warm weather times of the year.

Protect Yourself From the Bird Flu

4. Ask your doctor about the availability of a bird flu vaccine. Vaccines against several strains of avian influenza are being developed worldwide, and may be available in your area.
5. Avoid farms and close contact with birds and domesticated fowl. Human-to-human transmission of the avian influenza virus remains rare, with the overwhelming majority of bird flu cases caused by direct human contact with an infected bird.
6. Steer clear of open-air markets, especially in foreign countries. Sanitation remains a problem in many markets, and they are often hotbeds for diseases of all sorts. Infected poultry in an open-air market is very likely to cause illness in humans.
7. Handle eggs with care, and avoid foods and food products that use raw eggs in significant proportions, such as mayonnaise. Eggshells frequently contain traces of bird excrement, which is a breeding ground for the avian influenza virus.
8. Get a flu shot. Though there are no guarantees, as it protects against the common influenza, some studies suggest a flu shot may help prevent bird-to-human transmission of the flu virus that causes avian influenza.
9. Handle chicken products safely. Make sure they are thoroughly cooked, and thoroughly sanitize all cutting boards, knives and cooking accessories when you are finished using them.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your hands with antimicrobial soap as frequently as possible, especially when traveling, and especially when traveling in Southeast Asia. Diligent hand-washing remains an excellent way to prevent infections of all kinds.
• Consult a doctor immediately if you show symptoms of the bird flu. You will need to be treated within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms in order for the anti-viral drugs used to treat the disease to have a meaningful effect.