What is the California Department of Public Health doing about novel flu?
Many agencies in California are working together to track and prevent novel flu in California, especially avian flu (bird flu), which can pose a threat to human health. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works with local health departments to track human exposures to avian flu, while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) respond to outbreaks of avian flu in wild birds, poultry farms and livestock ranches, and backyard flocks throughout the state. Tracking avian flu is important to prevent the spread of flu between farms and to humans. CDPH, CDFA, CDFW, and local health departments work together to identify and respond to outbreaks of avian flu, stop or slow its spread, and monitor and evaluate people who had contact with infected animals. āāāāā
Where do novāel flu vāāiruses come from? āāā
Flu viruses constantly change (mutate). In rare situations, these changes can make it easier for certain viruses to spread from animals to people and possibly between people.
āāMany animals have their own flu viruses that can cause them to have fever, tiredness, and respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and trouble breathing. Some animals infected with flu viruses can look healthy, but they are still able to spread the virus to other animals.
Most animal flu viruses rarely infect humans. However, flu viruses from birds and pigs (swine) can mix and sometimes make humans sick. Bird or swine flu can spread very fast between animals and cause large numbers of animals to get sick and die.
How do novel flu viruses spread?
People can be exposed to novel flu viruses when they have close contact with infected animals or their environments. Flu viruses usually spread through droplets that come from an infected person's or animal's nose and mouth. Droplets spread through the air when a person or animal coughs or sneezes. People can also spread droplets in the air when they talk. Healthy animals or people can get infected when they breathe in these virus particles from droplets in the air or if they touch a surface where the droplets have landed and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. Birds shed flu virus in their feces (poop), and humans can become infected with bird flu through contact with poop particles on surfaces or in the air.