Worldwide, most healthcare professionals do not have to worry about treating patients with avian flu. However, fears of a potential pandemic (global outbreak) of the H5N1 avian influenza have prompted healthcare workers to learn more about the disease and consider their state of preparedness.

Preparation is vital

Currently, there is no concrete evidence that the H5N1 virus can be spread from person to person. In the vast majority of human cases, the victims have caught the disease from infected domesticated birds.

The fear is that the H5N1 virus could exchange genetic material with a flu strain that is easily transmitted via human contact. If that happened, the new mutated strain could spread quickly throughout the world, causing tens of millions to become sick and seek medical treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned that hospitals are not nearly prepared to handle the staggering number of patients that would need help during a pandemic. There would not be enough beds, medical equipment, or medication.

Furthermore, healthcare workers would most certainly be asked to work long hours to treat ill patients, putting them at great risk of contracting the disease.

Assessing the possibility of a bird flu outbreak

If a patient exhibits flu-like symptoms, the healthcare provider should take a travel history and list of recent contacts. The patient is a suspected avian influenza case if:

1. They have experienced fever and respiratory symptoms
2. In the seven days prior to the occurrence of symptoms, the patient has:
   
   

• Traveled to an area affected by bird flu
• Come in close contact (less than three feet) with domestic poultry, dead birds, or their secretions or feces
• Been working as a healthcare professional in the area affected by bird flu
• Been running laboratory tests with potential exposure to H5N1 avian influenza virus
  
  

Once it is determined that the patient may be infected with bird flu, a baseline investigation should be ordered, including:

• Chest x–rays
• Total and differential counts for lymphopenia
• Liver function tests

If the results are abnormal, the likelihood of bird flu is high. Laboratory tests must be run to determine what type of flu virus has infected the patient. Samples should also be sent to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for analysis.

Patient care recommendations

The CDC recommends that healthcare workers who suspect a patient may have avian flu follow the same guidelines that were established during SARS outbreaks. These include:

• Washing hands before and after contact with the patient
• Using gloves and a protective gown when touching the patient
• Wearing eye protection gear when within three feet of the patient
• Using airborne isolation rooms to minimize the spread of infection
• When transporting a patient, make sure he or she is wearing a surgical mask
  
• If the patient cannot wear a mask during transportation, take other measures to avoid spreading respiratory secretions.

The CDC’s Guidelines for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals states that the above measures should be followed for at least 14 days after the patient first displays symptoms, or until a different diagnosis is reached.

Any healthcare worker exposed to a patient who is suspected of having avian flu should monitor his or her own health for at least one week and seek treatment if any signs of infection are noticed. The most serious tell-tale signs of avian influenza include:

• Fever
• Respiratory symptoms
• Conjunctivitis

Healthcare workers in affected areas

Healthcare workers who will be treating patients or traveling in areas that have confirmed outbreaks of bird flu should take all of the precautionary measures detailed in this article.

Because the majority of people who have had H5N1 caught it from infected birds, other important preventative steps include:

• Avoiding all contact with live or dead birds, including those sold at markets
• Staying away from any area that could be contaminated with bird feces
• Only eating poultry that is fully cooked.
• Frequently washing hands with soap or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Fully understanding the risk of disease in the area where you are traveling and knowing where to receive medical treatment

Preventive measures for healthcare providers

Though there is no vaccine for avian influenza, the WHO and CDC both recommend that all healthcare workers get current flu vaccines. In order for the H5N1 virus to mutate into a form easily spread from person to person, it has to “mix” and exchange genetic material with another flu strain within a human body.

By preventing infections from common flu strains, the development of a deadly pandemic may be avoided.

See also

• Government preparations

• How you can prepare

• The latest news
• What you need to know