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Influenza - Novel

What is Novel Flu?

A new (novel) flu virus is one that causes human infection but is different from the seasonal flu viruses that spread among people each year. People usually do not have immunity to novel flu viruses and a vaccine may not be quickly available.

Novel flu viruses usually come from animal flu viruses. Animal flu viruses do not normally infect people, but in rare cases, especially when people have close contact with animals, infections occur.

Novel flu viruses are concerning because they could impact public health if they change to spread easily from person to person. This could cause a pandemic.

There are two types of novel flu viruses that are most concerning to public health officials -- avian flu and swine flu viruses.

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What is Avian Flu

Avian influenza (flu) refers to a respiratory disease caused by infection with flu viruses that are typically found in birds. Avian flu viruses normally live in wild water birds, like ducks and geese, around the world. These viruses can spread to domestic birds, like chickens, ducks, geese, guinea hens, and turkey. They can also spread to some other wild and domestic animals, like seals, foxes, cats, and cattle.
Currently, the type of avian flu virus spreading in birds and cattle in the United States is H5N1.

How Does Avian Flu Spread to People?

Humans can become infected with avian flu viruses, but this is very rare. The risk of infection is highest for people who work with infected wild or domestic animals or unpasteurized (raw) milk.
Infected birds have avian flu virus in their saliva, mucous, and feces. People and animals can become infected by having contact with virus from infected birds or other animals. People can get avian influenza by:
•    Touching bedding, feed, or water contaminated with waste from infected animals, then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.
•    Breathing in the virus in contaminated respiratory droplets or dust.
•    Working with or drinking raw milk from infected animals.
Avian flu viruses rarely infect people, however, since avian flu can cause severe symptoms in some people, monitoring for human infection and preventing the spread of avian flu is very important.

How to Prevent Avian Flu

Avoid sources of exposure:

  • Generally, avoid direct contact with wild birds. Observe them only from a distance. Wild birds can be infected with avian flu even if they do not look sick.
  • Avoid unprotected contact with domestic animals, especially poultry, that look sick or have died.
  • Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from wild or domestic birds or other animals.
  • Do not visit the flocks of family, friends, or neighbors if any of their or your birds are sick.
  • Wash your hands after handling live poultry or their eggs.
  • Avoid raw milk. Consume pasteurized dairy products instead.

If you work with domestic or wild animals

For poultry owners and agricultural producers:
  •  Practice good biosecurity:
    • Keep your distance: Isolate your birds from visitors and other birds. Prevent wild birds from contacting your birds.
    • Keep it clean: Prevent germs from spreading by cleaning shoes, tools, and equipment.
    • Don't haul disease home: Clean vehicles and cages.
    • Don't borrow disease from your neighbor: Avoid sharing tools and equipment with neighbors.
    • Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases: Watch for early signs to prevent the spread of disease.
    • Report sick birds: Report unusual signs of disease or unexpected deaths to USDA's toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593 or contact our State Veterinarian's Office.
  • Follow USDA's Guidance for Poultry Producers.
  • Find more information and useful checklists on all of these topics at USDA's Defend the Flock.
For dairy cattle owners and dairy workers:
If you are a hunter:
  • Dress game birds in the field whenever possible.
  • Wear gloves when dressing birds and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.
  • Follow USDA's Guidance for Hunters (PDF).

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What is Swine Flu

Swine influenza, or swine flu, is a respiratory disease caused by a flu virus that regularly causes outbreaks in pigs. Pigs can get infected with avian and human flu viruses. When flu viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can swap genes and create new flu viruses that are a mix of swine, human, and/or avian flu. Sometimes, this means that the virus can infect people.

How Does Swine Flu Spread to People?

Humans can become infected with swine flu viruses, but this is very rare. The risk of infection is highest for people who work with pigs.

People and animals can become infected by having direct contact with infected pigs or contact with surfaces contaminated with virus. People can get swine flu by:

  • Touching bedding, feed, or water contaminated with waste from infected animals, then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Breathing in the virus in contaminated respiratory droplets or dust.

The spread of swine flu virus from one infected person to another is very rare. When it happens, it usually only spreads to a few people. However, since swine flu can cause severe symptoms in some people, monitoring for human infection and preventing the spread of swine flu is very important.

How to Prevent Swine Flu

Avoid sources of exposure:

  • Never eat, drink, or put things in your mouth in animal areas.
  • Avoid taking toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers, or similar items into areas with pigs.
  • Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from pigs.
  • Minimize contact with pigs in pig barns or show arenas.
  • Where possible, avoid direct contact with pigs that are known or suspected to be sick. Wear personal protective equipment (protective clothing, gloves, well-fitting mask) if you come into contact with a pig that might be ill.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after exposure to pigs inside or outside a swine barn. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

For pig owners and agricultural producers:

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If You Have a Known Exposure to Infected Animals or Contaminated Animal Products

  • Monitor for symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products (like raw milk).  Symptoms can include:
    • Cough
    • Headache
    • Eye redness or irritation
    • Sore throat
    • Fever or Chills
    • Fatigue
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Less common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, rash, and sneezing.
  • If you become sick within 10 days of your last exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products (like raw milk), isolate at home away from other household members.
    • Do not go to work or school until you get a flu test to prove you do not have an avian or swine flu virus and you recover from your illness.
    • Report your symptoms, as well as your recent exposure to infected or sick animals, to a health care provider.
    • Follow all instructions from Maine CDC.
  • If you develop symptoms and are a suspect or confirmed case of novel flu, your household members should monitor their health for 10 days from their last exposure to you.
    • If they experience any symptoms during this time, especially respiratory symptoms, report symptoms to a health care provider.

If you are an Avian Flu Outbreak Responder:

  • Use protective equipment, including gloves, an N95 mask, and eye protection. Throw away your gloves and facemask after use.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after touching birds.
  • Change your clothes before having contact with healthy domestic poultry and after handling wild birds.
  • Monitor yourself for symptoms and follow all instructions from Maine CDC.

Avian flu monitoring resources:

More information about Flu in Animals

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