WiRED International Releases Module on Avian Flu

By Allison Kozicharow; Edited by Elizabeth Fine

WiRED International has just released an evidence-based training module designed to help community health workers (CHWs) and others working in public health to understand important elements of this rapidly spreading avian flu.

What is Avian or Bird Flu?

WiRED’s new Avian Flu module explains that the infection is caused by certain flu viruses that usually spread between birds. Recently there have been reports of avian flu spreading to some animals (e.g., cows, cats, and dogs), and, although it happens rarely, to people.

The disease is contracted from avian influenza A viruses, with H5N1 being a particularly concerning strain (among the other strains of H2N5, H5N2 and H7N2). Infected birds can spread the virus through mucus, saliva or feces. People can become infected by breathing in virus droplets, touching contaminate surfaces and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose.

The best way for people to keep safe is to:

• Avoid contact with sick or dead animals,
• Practice proper hand hygiene and food safety practices,
• Use appropriate protective equipment if working with birds or in high-risk environments,
• Consume pasteurized milk and milk products, and
• Maintain regular seasonal influenza vaccinations.

WiRED’s Health Training Programs

WiRED always acts quickly to develop high-quality peer-reviewed, science-based modules on critical health issues that pose a global threat. Previous examples include our training modules on outbreaks such as Ebola, COVID-19, Zika and polio.

Note that when we added the Avian Flu module to WiRED’s 400+ health education library, we made it accessible through our new Android phone app, available for free at Google Play Store (under HealthMAP). This demonstrates WiRED’s capacity to develop high-quality training material and distribute it worldwide in an instant, through HealthMAP.

All WiRED modules are free of charge, based rigidly on scientific data from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research universities and recognized scientific journals. Modules are written by medical doctors and go through a rigorous editing and review process before release.

Community health workers (CHWs) play a key role in avian flu prevention and management in low-resource regions where health professionals are scarce. CHWs provide accurate information about transmission, diagnosis and treatment; monitor their communities; promote safe hygiene and food handling; and make referrals to health authorities.

WiRED will continue to monitor the avian flu in the news media and scientific journals. Knowledge about disease transmission in general from animals to humans is an important part of the One Health approach WiRED folds into our health education programs. The relationship between animals, humans and the environment is vital to preserve the health of all.