The recent news that health authorities in Indonesia have identified the deadly H5N1 virus in a group of villagers and that 46 Thais are under close medical supervision after developing symptoms similar to bird flu, is doing little to calm the public's fears about the disease.

Yet, say the experts, bird flu is not that scary. Doctors stress that only people in direct contact with poultry need to be seriously aware about the threat of possible infection.

For others, preventing the disease is simple.

Nonetheless, the constant reports on TV and in the newspapers are stirring up panic. In some areas, people are avoiding chicken and eggs. Others are shunning neighbours who keep caged birds as pets, afraid they and their children will become sick.

So how valid are their fears? Many questions have yet to be answered but precautionary guidelines can help by giving knowledge of the virus, how it works, the level of threat and the effective ways of prevention.

Migratory waterfowl and ducks, in particular, carry the viruses that cause the disease. Often unaffected themselves, the host birds can spread the infection to susceptible species, especially domesticated chickens, turkeys and geese, resulting in severe epidemics that sickens and kills large numbers of birds sometimes in a single day.

Avian viruses generally don't affect humans, but in 1997, an outbreak of bird flu in Hong Kong infected 18 people, six of whom died. Since then, human cases of bird flu have been reported in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Most have been traced to contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated by sick birds.

"Since the first outbreak, the disease has been developing itself in order to survive while scientists are hurriedly developing medicines to block it," says Dr Sawang Saenghirunvattana, a professor of medicine at Samitivej Hospital, Sukhumvit.

"On the other side, the technology we're developing - concentrated pesticide, antibiotics, which have been given to shrimps, and several hormones given to chickens to stimulate their growth - all these play important roles and encourage the virus to develop itself and become more intensified."

"In Hong Kong, transmission occurred because they stack cages of live chickens on the streets. Workers and the public came into direct contact with the droppings, saliva and nasal secretions," he explains.

While it's impossible to do anything about migration movements, preventive measures can be put into action against many of the factors likely to cause bird-to-human transmission of the virus.

Poultry can be protected too.

"You should have a closed system to keep birds away from your chickens or ducks," says Sawang.

Any sudden deaths among the brood should be cause for alarm.

"We used to keep chickens when I was a child. They are healthy birds and don't drop dead for no reason. The only time they died was when we killed them for food," notes the doctor.

"If you are going to handle the body of a dead bird or chicken, you need proper protection," warns Dr Woraphot Tantisiriwat, an infectious disease expert at Samitivej.

"Wear rubber gloves at all times and thoroughly wash your hands when you finish. In fact, washing your hands often is the most important and easiest way to protect yourself from all disease."

With bird flu once again affecting Thailand, Sawang has som e advice for families.

"Do not buy eggs with chicken droppings on the shells. If it's necessary to buy those eggs, you must wash them thoroughly before storing them in the fridge to prevent infecting other food. And, after that, wash your hands properly."

"Do not eat the meat of chickens that have died mysteriously. If you are uncertain about chicken purchased from a supermarket, put on gloves when handling the meat or contact the store. While cooking, wash your hands at every step. Everything has to be cooked properly because heat can kill the virus," Sawang stresses.

When multiple members of the same family came down with bird flu in Indonesia earlier this year, the World Health Organisation concluded that the virus had gone through a small mutation. Experts are unsure at what stage it will become easily transmissible between humans but when it does, simple public health measures will be invaluable in keeping numbers down.

Bird flu outbreaks coincide with flare-ups of common flu, in the wet sea son. The symptoms of both are alike - fever, nasal congestion, muscular aches and pains, with viral pneumonia in severe cases.

"It's a good idea for people to start practising now and prevent ordinary flu from spreading. Cover your mouth when you cough. It's also a help to be vaccinated against the flu. The jabs are available at most hospitals," says Sawang.

Woraphot recommends anyone with a bad cough and running nose to wear a mask, adding that good hygiene prevents all kinds of infectious respiratory diseases including common flu, bird flu and TB.

And for those who are still worried they may have contracted bird flu, Sawang has this to say.

"If you have not been in contact with   dead birds or dead chickens, it's only the flu. If you have touched or eaten infected birds, you should be tested but otherwise the chances are very small."

Many people are worried about the migratory birds that populate the wires over Bangkok's Silom Road. Could they pose a potential health hazard?

The doctors shrug. "Only if they all drop dead."

So, the bottom line is don't panic, but be wise. Wash your hands, cook meat thoroughly before eating and wear a mask if you  have the flu.

"A vaccine against bird flu is now available but it is still very expensive. When and if there is an outbreak, the country producing the vaccine tends to stock up, so the best way is to protect yourself and follow the simple guidelines," says Sawang.

Juthamas Cholthavornpong

The Nation