1. What is my government doing about it? The Guam Department of Agriculture is aligned with the federal government and with the other agencies in the Government of Guam. A cohesive plan exists to address the current threat caused by zoonotic avian influenza and the potential threat of pandemic avian influenza. But it is important to take responsibility for much of your own defense against both the current bird flu and the potential of pandemic influenza. What should I do to prepare myself and my family for a potential bird flu pandemic? Perhaps the most important thing is to remain informed. At this point no one knows what the pandemic will be like if it comes to Guam. Some experts believe that once started the pandemic will sweep around the world in about three months. It is unlikely that there will be effective vaccine for the first six months, so preventing exposure to whatever extent possible seems prudent. But we depend on each other for food, energy, medical care, everything. Most filters will not protect you completely from exposure, but may help. Michael Leavitt, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services advises people to prepare themselves to the extent possible. The national and even local governments may be overwhelmed. School, transportation, and social services may be disrupted for weeks or months. It may not be possible to work, and supplies and distribution of essentials may be compromised. He recommends storing a supply of food and water. It probably makes more sense for the people of Guam who are accustomed to going weeks without tap water and electricity. But the pandemic flu could come in waves and each wave could last for months. He recommends storing foods that are easy to prepare and maintaining a supply of essential nonprescription drugs. And remember that this is worst case planning. The bird flu pandemic of 1918 was that bad, but the pandemics of 1957 and 1968 were not much worse than regular flu. For more information contact the Guam Department of Agriculture Worldwide Web references: www.pandemicflu.gov www.cdc.gov/flu www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/ Guam Department of Agriculture 163 Dairy Road, Mangilao 734-3942 AVIAN INFLUENZA 2006

2. What is the difference between “bird flu” and avian influenza? There is no difference. What is a “pandemic” and has one ever visited Guam? An epidemic is a disease that strikes a large number of people in a specific locale or region. A pandemic reaches around the world. There were only three bird flu pandemics in the 20 th Century, and all visited Guam. Is there a difference between the bird flu that people are dying from now and the pandemic bird flu? There is a huge difference. The current bird flu has infected roughly 200 people around the world over the last two years. Most became ill working closely with infected birds, and it was almost impossible to spread to other people. But someday a person with normal human influenza may also contract bird flu. A “genetic re- assortment” may occur where bird virus and human flu virus mix and make a new virus with traits of both parent viruses. It may spread easily between people like human flu and reach every corner of the earth, but with far deadlier consequences. A pandemic. It happened in 1918 and killed at least 40 million people around the world in a little over one year. Has bird flu come to Guam yet? No, and with some preparation perhaps it will not. Guam is part of a migratory bird flyway that shares nations were H5N1 bird flu is common. We also have many wild chickens who share the resting grounds visited by those migrating birds. These chickens mingle with backyard chickens and fighting birds who could share the disease with their owners. What are my risks of contracting influenza from a bird on Guam? Those risks are very small unless you have close contact with birds infected with avian influenza.. This disease does NOT transmit easily to people. But if the pandemic virus is developed then we can all forget about the birds. Infected people will then be the source of disease. It is very important for everyone to get an annual influenza vaccination, especially people who work closely with poultry. While the vaccine will not prevent bird flu, it may prevent the re-assortment between bird and human influenza viruses that can initiate the pandemic. If you have chickens, keeping them penned and isolated from wild chickens could protect your birds from avian influenza, and protect you too. What should I do if I find a dead bird? Birds die of many causes, and so far none of the birds who have died on Guam have died from influenza. Almost all wild birds are very resistant to bird flu. Chickens and domestic ducks are very susceptible to the disease. Usually more than 90% of the exposed chickens will sicken and die, and usually in less than 48 hours. A single dead bird should be handled like any other dead animal. Use a shovel to dig a hole, move and bury the carcass with the shovel, avoid breathing any dust or vapors from the carcass, and wash the shovel with a garden hose when done. If you should see many dead and dying chickens, then please contact the Guam Department of Agriculture immediately. Is it still safe to eat chicken? Yes. The virus does not survive cooking temperatures. It has always been important to fully cook chicken, and it still is. Consumers need to avoid eating any “pink” chicken, and eggs should be fully cooked too. Raw chicken and the liquids that leak from it are potentially very dangerous. It is important to clean thoroughly utensils, hands, and all surfaces that have been in contact with raw chicken. Preparing salads on a cutting board that was used to cut up raw chicken is an important source of serious food borne illness. Can other kinds of animals suffer from bird flu? It is possible, but unlikely. Most mammals are resistant to bird flu. Pigs and cats and other animals have contracted bird flu, but only very rarely, and none have successfully spread the infection to humans.