Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore

Advice on Bird Flu

WESTERN PACIFIC PHARMACEUTICAL FORUM WORKING GROUP ON AVIAN INFLUENZA,
13 JANUARY 2006, MANILA

Avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ is a contagious disease of animals caused by a virus that normally infects only birds and, less commonly, pigs.
The H5N1 virus is the agent of cause for the recent outbreak of bird flu among the populations of domesticated poultry around the world.
Bird flu cannot be transmitted from poultry meat or egg products that are fully cooked.
Prevention against infection

Avoid contact with birds, unless necessary
Exercise extreme personal hygiene when handling birds and bird products
Cook all foods to a minimum of 70oC to kill the virus
Eggs should be cooked through, avoid consuming runny egg yolks
Do not allow juices from raw poultry to come in contact with cooked or uncooked foods, therefore good food hygiene practice is essential

5. Currently there is no pandemic outbreak. Health authorities will notify the public should human to human transmissions occur.

6. Preventative vaccines

Vaccines against bird flu are being developed and clinical trials on a few potential vaccines are being conducted
Currently available vaccines are not effective against bird flu

7. Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) can reduce the severity and duration of seasonal influenza, but they are not specific for bird flu

8. Do not self-medicate without first consulting with a physician or a pharmacist, especially when you are also suffering from other chronic medical conditions

9. Consult a pharmacist for proper storage of these medications at home. Stockpiling of such medications is not advisable

10. Beware of potential counterfeit drugs available in the market, it is therefore not recommended to purchase these medications over the Internet. All medications should be obtained or purchased from legally accredited pharmacies or medical clinics.

11. The symptoms of bird flu are similar to ordinary flu. If you are involved with poultry or birds in any way and develop flu-like symptoms, consult your physician or local health authority immediately.

12. For more information on bird flu please refer to the following