A global outbreak of disease -- that is what many people think when they hear the words “bird flu.” But is it really the next pandemic or just fowl play?

Properly named avian influenza, this virus has spurred global awareness and growing concerns about the possibility of the virus mutating into a more lethal form.

“(Bird flu) is caused by a specific strain of flu virus (H5N1) that usually infects birds,” said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Mellinger, U.S. Central Command Air Forces public health noncommissioned officer. “The strain of flu has been around since 1967, but it recently mutated into a highly lethal strain associated with migratory birds.”

Through these birds, the disease spreads quickly to other bird populations, and to humans exposed to infected birds or poultry. Currently, the bird flu virus does not have the ability to spread effectively from human-to-human.

The bird flu is contracted orally or through the respiratory system and is primarily spread by contact through saliva, nasal secretions and feces of infected birds. Deceivingly, the initial symptoms of the illness are similar to that of the normal flu.

“We don’t know for sure whether the current strains of bird flu will evolve into a pandemic strain,” Sergeant Mellinger said. “However, it has shown the ability to mutate, so it is a concern.”

There is currently no effective or approved vaccine to prevent the bird flu in humans.

Antiviral drugs like Tamiflu or Relenza can be used to ease symptoms of the virus, if given within 48 hours of initial symptoms.

“We haven’t had any human cases of the bird flu in America. For those who have gotten sick with the virus, the mortality rate is about 50 percent,” Sergeant Mellinger said. “Because of this and other concerns, the bird flu is being monitored closely by numerous health organizations across the world.”

Outbreaks of bird flu have occurred recently among poultry in a number of countries in Asia, as well as in Germany, France, Romania, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece. Human infections of the virus have been reported in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and Iraq. Most of these cases have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.

Individuals traveling in those areas are advised to avoid contact with sick birds or poultry and their excretions and observe food hygiene, eating only poultry and eggs that have been thoroughly cooked from approved sources, which include all American military dining facilities.

Building good body resistance also goes a long way in preventing any type of influenza. This can be achieved through a balanced diet, adequate rest, regular exercise, good personal hygiene and not smoking.

According to Department of Defense officials, if a human pandemic of the bird flu were to occur, it would take about six to nine months to produce an effective vaccine.

“Each strain of flu is unique,” Sergeant Mellinger said. “If it starts passing from human to human, it will take time to identify the strain and create an effective vaccine to counter it.”

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded two contracts to support the production and clinical testing of an investigational vaccine based on a strain of avian influenza, according to DOD officials.

“There is no pandemic flu in our country or in the world at this time,” said President George W. Bush, during a recent visit to the National Institutes of Health at Bethesda, Md. “But If we wait for a pandemic to appear, it will be too late to prepare and one day many lives could be needlessly lost because we failed to act today.”

For more information on avian influenza go to www.pandemicflu.gov.