Is there really a bird flu pandemic coming our way? Maybe, maybe not. It hasn't been proven that the Avian flu virus can transmit from human to human. It's still passed only from birds to humans. So, as long as you don't handle contaminated chicken and forget to wash your hands, you're probably going to be okay.

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Based on recommendations from the World Health Organization, the United States is now mobilizing vaccine makers, improving our early warning systems, and doing what we can to delay spread of the bird flu virus if it should get out of control.

On first blush, that sounds good. They're trying to protect us.

The media is covering it, and the politicians are afraid of it. But the chances of bird flu actually affecting you are very, very low - unless you are in contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds.


Bird flu - called avian influenza A - is infecting birds in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, and has infected some humans. But we have no idea if human-to-human transmission will occur with this virus. We don't really know the mortality rate from bird flu, because those cases could have been caused by death from a secondary infection if the victims didn't get basic health care after getting sick.


Officials report that it will be five years before there's enough bird flu vaccine to protect us. Given that time frame, and because viruses mutate on a regular basis, there is a probability that the vaccine - when it's finally ready - won't be protective against the right strain of the virus. Also, the annual flu vaccine which is given now only protects 30 percent of people who are inoculated.

So, before becoming test rats for a bird flu vaccine, consumers must demand the evidence that the vaccine will work - and that there will be a pandemic after all.


Bird flu spreads to humans generally from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.

However, well-cooked poultry offers little danger as proper cooking appears to destroy the offending virus. You can take these extra precautions:

• Avoid touching waterfowl, pigeons, geese, and mice.
  
  
• Be hand-washing savvy when traveling - especially if you are traveling to Asia.
  
  
• Cook poultry to at least 150 degrees or more.
  
  
• When eating in restaurants, do not accept any chicken, turkey, or fowl that is not cooked through and through (i.e. no red areas).
  
  

And, to stay well, wash your hands often!