*Bird Flu is known as Avian Influenza (A1)

*Chicks are never born with A1. Even if the A1 virus were present in a breeder hen, the virus would not transmit through the fertile egg to the chick.

*Most breeder flocks are tested monthly for A1 and, if any are found positive, the flock would be depopulated. In addition to breeder flocks, many states monitor commercial flocks for A1 on a regular basis, and active A1 would never be allowed to remain in any flock.

*Most strains of A1 virus are species-specific and infect only one species. For instance, human influenza only infects people and avian influenza usually only infects avians - with the one documented exception being the Hong Kong strain of A1 responsible for the 1997 outbreak.

*It was purely coincidental that the first child to be found to have the A1 flu in Hong Kong had been in a classroom with chicks. The child was also suffering from another severe disease and thus had a severely compromised immune system. Clearly, there were other multiple opportunities for the child to be exposed to the virus.

*The A1 virus strain responsible for the 1997 Hong Kong problem is not present in the U.S. Thus, in reality, American children are not at risk from the strain of A1.

*THE BOTTOM LINE...The risk associated with newly-hatched chicks and A1 is essentially nonexistent for American children.

Information provided by:

David C. Kradel (M.S., M.P.H., D.V.M.)

Robert G. Elkin (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

R. Michael Hulet (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

Department of Poultry Science - College of Agricultural Sciences

Pennsylvania State University -University Park, PA