Avian Influenza Information - Frequently Asked Qustions

Q:	Better'n Eggs® and AllWhites® are pasteurized. Are pasteurized egg products safe?
A:	USDA egg pasteurization conditions will effectively eliminate the H5N1 virus from a variety of egg product categories (Swayne, Avian Pathology, 33(5), 512-518). Better'n Eggs® and AllWhites® are pasteurized under USDA supervision.
Q:	Can people get avian influenza from eating poultry or eggs?
A:	People cannot contract avian influenza from eating properly handled and cooked poultry or eggs.
Q:	What is avian influenza?
A:	Avian influenza, commonly know as "bird flu", is a disease caused by a virus that occurs naturally among birds. It is usually a mild disease which does not cause the bird to become sick.
Q:	What is H5N1?
A:	H5N1 is the most recent strain of avian influenza. This strain is highly contagious among birds and is often fatal to birds. There have been no known outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in North America.
Q:	How have humans contracted avian influenza?
A:	Humans have contracted avian influenza through close and direct contact with infected birds. Most human cases have occurred in rural areas where many households keep small poultry flocks which often roam freely. There have been no known outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in North America.
Q:	Has avian influenza been transmitted from human to human?
A:	There is no evidence of the avian influenza being transmitted between humans.

For more information visit the following websites:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture
www.usda.gov