ABOUT BIRD FLU 2024.

Q: What is Bird Flu?
A: Bird flu or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is a highly contagious poultry disease that is caused by Type A influenza virus. It causes high mortalities in poultry.

Q: What animals can be affected by bird flu?
A: Bird flu can affect a wide variety of birds. Domestic poultry such as chickens and turkeys are the most susceptible.

Q: How is bird flu spread?
A: The virus can be spread to susceptible birds through:

• Direct contact with nasal and respiratory secretions from infected birds
• Direct contact with the faeces of infected birds
• Contamination of feed and water
• Contact with contaminated equipment and humans

Many species of waterfowl, especially wild geese, ducks and swans, may carry the virus without clinical signs. The virus is concentrated in faeces and nasal and eye discharges. Infection may be introduced by migratory wild birds.

Q: What are the signs that infected poultry will show?
A: Infected poultry can show signs such as:

• sudden death
• lack of energy and appetite
• swelling of the head, eyelids, combs, wattles and legs
• purple discolouration of the wattles and combs
• nasal discharge
• coughing and sneezing
• diarrhoea

PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS
Q: Can bird flu be transmitted from chickens to humans?
A: It is rare for the bird flu virus to be transmitted from chickens to humans. Of all the bird flu virus strains, only the H5N1, H9N2 and H7N7 strains have been known to pass from chickens to humans.

Q: How is the disease transmitted to humans?
A: The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with infected chickens. Transmission occurs through inhalation of droplets of nasal and respiratory secretions from the infected chickens when they cough or sneeze as well as inhalation of dried faecal matter.

Q: What are the symptoms of humans infected with bird flu?
A: The reported symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat and muscle aches to eye infections, pneumonia and other complications.

Q: Can bird flu be transmitted from human to human?
A: There is no evidence of human-to-human transmissions.

CONSUMPTION OF POULTRY & POULTRY PRODUCTS
Q: Is it safe to eat poultry and eggs?
A: Yes, the poultry and eggs available in the market are safe to eat. Bird flu is transmitted to humans through close contact with infected live poultry. There is no evidence that bird flu can be spread to humans through the consumption of poultry and eggs.

Q: Is it safe to consume canned poultry products and chicken essence?
A: It is safe to consume canned poultry products and chicken essence. There is no evidence that bird flu can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of poultry and eggs. Moreover, all canned products undergo a heat treatment process that effectively destroys any viruses.

Q: Is it safe to handle raw poultry?
A: Yes, it is safe to handle raw poultry. Bird flu is transmitted to humans through close contact with infected live poultry. However, you should practice general food safety precautions such as separating raw from cooked food to avoid cross contamination which can cause food poisoning.

Q: Are there guidelines to cooking poultry?
A: Consumers are advised to cook poultry meat thoroughly. Thorough cooking helps to kill any germs present in food.

Q: Is it safe to consume raw or half-boiled eggs?
A: Consumers are advised to eat food that is well-cooked. Thorough cooking helps to kill any harmful germs present. The eating of any raw or semi-cooked food, including eggs, comes with an inherent food safety risk.

PET POULTRY & OTHER PET BIRDS
Q: I/My neighbour/My school owns some pet poultry. Is it safe to continue keeping the poultry? Will these pet poultry pose a risk to the public?
A: Singapore is free from bird flu. The risk of pet poultry getting infected with bird flu is very low. Given Singapore’s current bird flu free status, and the disease prevention measures and conditions already put in place, pet poultry kept in Singapore currently do not pose a risk to the general population.
However, pet poultry, where kept, are subject to a maximum of 10 poultry and are required to be caged to minimise the risk of contact with wild birds

Q : How does AVA ensure that the ornamental / pet birds that are imported into Singapore are free from bird flu?
A: Ornamental birds are allowed to be imported into Singapore only from birdflu free sources . The birds are also subject to pre-export quarantine and testing for bird flu to ensure that they are free from bird flu before they are exported to Singapore. In addition, AVA follows up with further checks when the consignments arrive in Singapore.

Q: Do I need to take any precautionary measures if I own pet chickens/birds?
A: Bird flu can be spread by wild migratory birds. Owners are advised to take precautionary measures such as keeping their birds in a bird-proof enclosure (e.g. cage, hen house or a netted area in their gardens) so that they do not come into contact with wild birds. Also, owners should not introduce birds of unknown origin to their existing pet birds.
Anyone who handles pet birds should also practice good hygiene, such as washing hands thoroughly with soap after handling their pets.

Q: Do I need to wear a face mask when I handle my pet birds?
A: Singapore is free from bird flu. It is not necessary for you to wear a face mask.
As a general precaution, adopt hygiene practices such as washing hands thoroughly with soap after handling the birds.

Q: What should I do if my pet bird falls sick?
A: Call your veterinarian for advice. If you have more than one bird, separate the healthy birds from the sick birds if possible. The birds could be kept in enclosures (e.g. cage, hen house or a netted area in the garden) that are not adjacent to each other. As a general precaution, adopt hygiene practices such as washing hands thoroughly with soap after handling the birds.

Q: What should I do if my pet bird dies?
A: Put the dead bird into a plastic bag; tie the bag up firmly by knotting it and dispose it together with your garbage. Adopt good hygiene practices (e.g. disinfection of bird cage) and wash your hands thoroughly after disposing the dead bird.