Avian Influenza (Bird Flu): The Significance of Its Transmission to Humans

This 46-slide PowerPoint lecture was provided by Professor Suad M. Sulaiman (Health & Environment Adviser, Sudanese Environment Conservation Society). In these slides, Professor Sulaiman sets out to raise public awareness of the environmental hazard posed by avian influenza, by exploring core questions about the disease (also known as avian flu or bird flu) itself, and providing details about the global response.

Some of the questions that he looks at include:
1. What is avian influenza (the disease in birds, as well as the disease in humans)?
2. Why is H5N1 of particular concern?
3. Is the world expecting another pandemic?
4. Will all countries be affected (if a fully human contagious virus emerges) - Sulaiman says yes...
5. Will widespread illness occur? - Sulaiman says yes...
6. Will large numbers of deaths occur - Sulaiman warns that accurate predictions cannot be made, but the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates between 2 and 7.4 million deaths...
7. Will economic and social effects of such a pandemic be great? - Sulaiman says yes, noting that negative aspects "may be greatest when rates of absenteeism affects essential services, e.g. power, transportation, & communications."
8. How will every country be prepared? - Sulaiman provides links to a number of resources provided by WHO, which has issued a series of strategic actions...
9. Will WHO alert the world when the pandemic threat increases? - Sulaiman indicates that WHO works closely with ministries of health and various public health organisations to support countries' surveillance of circulating influenza strains, stressing that a sensitive surveillance system that can detect such emerging strains is essential for the rapid detection of a pandemic virus.
10. What are the most important warning signals that a pandemic is about to start?
11. What are the implications for human health?
12. Can a pandemic be prevented?
13. Is it safe to eat poultry and poultry products?
14. Will the virus reach Africa?
15. Do migratory birds spread highly pathogenic bird flu viruses?

This lecture provides basic health and communication information about a potential pandemic that is, as of this writing, mobilising the international community. As indicated by the title, the information provided here ties the threat to health concerns specific to humans. Its clear structure - organised in the form of core questions, and bolstered by links to various sources of online information - seems conducive to communicating clear, evidence-based information about what many consider to be a pressing health threat.

Click here to access the full PowerPoint presentation.