New Jersey Avian Influenza Screening Information

Avian influenza A viruses do not normally infect people, but occasional infections in humans have occurred with some avian influenza A viruses. Human infection occurs when people have direct or indirect contact with infected birds, so the best infection prevention is to avoid sources of exposure. Infected birds shed the avian influenza virus in their saliva, mucus, and feces. The symptoms of the Avian Influenza A virus can range in severity and include characteristics of influenza-like illness such as fever, cough, and muscle aches, as well as, nausea, abdominal pain, or lead to severe respiratory illness. The New Jersey Avian Influenza Screening Information app is a reporting device for cases of Avian flu as part of an influenza surveillance program. With the app, the health investigator will record patient and clinical information, signs and symptoms of the flu, clinical findings and laboratory testing that identifies influenza strains. Most importantly, the health investigator seeks to identify risk factors for disease control such as travel to a place known to have bird flu or come into contact with domestic chickens, or exposure to another person infected by the disease.