Avian flu

Although there have been no cases of people with avian flu in the UK, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has plans in place to manage any suspected cases.

An initial assessment will be made over the phone, at a GP surgery, at home or in a side room at a hospital.

Making a diagnosis

A diagnosis is made based on your symptoms and the likelihood that you have been exposed to an infected bird.

The doctor will ask if you have recently travelled to an area affected by avian flu and if you have been close (within one metre) to live or dead domestic fowl or wild birds, including those at bird markets.

You will also be asked if you have had close contact (touching or speaking distance) with anyone who has a severe respiratory illness, or if you have had contact with anyone who had an unexplained death and who was from an area that had an outbreak.

Tests

The following tests will be done to establish whether you have avian flu:

• chest X-ray,
• liver function tests,
• nose and throat swab,
• blood tests, and
• gram stain (a process that detects different bacteria).

If the laboratory tests and chest X-ray are normal, it is unlikely to be avian flu.

Glossary

Bacteria

Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and others are good for you.

Liver

The liver is the largest organ in the body. Its main jobs are to secrete bile (to help digestion), detoxify the blood and change food into energy.

X-ray

An X-ray is a painless way of producing pictures of inside the body using radiation.

Blood

Blood supplies oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide. It is pumped around the body by the heart.

Fever

A high temperature, also known as a fever, is when someone's body temperature is 38°C/100.4°F or above.