Bird flu

Bird flu is infection with an influenza A virus that mainly circulates among birds and rarely infects people, usually after intensive unprotected contact with sick or dead animals or a contaminated environment. Symptoms range from a red eye and mild flu to severe pneumonia. Report symptoms after relevant exposure immediately before entering a waiting room, so testing, isolation and early antiviral treatment can be arranged safely.

• Redness, irritation, watering or discharge from one or both eyes may be conjunctivitis and may be the only or first symptom after exposure.
• Fever or feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle pain and tiredness resemble other influenza or respiratory infections.
• Do not touch sick or dead birds or other suspect animals; keep children and pets away, and follow official government or public health instructions after a local alert.
• If symptoms develop after exposure, call the doctor first and explicitly mention bird or mammal contact before going to a practice, laboratory or pharmacy.
• Call your GP or public health service the same day after unprotected high-risk contact or a failure of protective equipment, even without symptoms, so monitoring and possible prophylaxis can be agreed. Monitor yourself from the first exposure until ten days after the last contact for new eye, respiratory or other flu-like symptoms, unless public health advises a different period.
• For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.
• Severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, chest pain, exhaustion or a very low oxygen reading may indicate severe pneumonia.