Tips to help avoid Avian Flu Published April 16, 2008 51st Medical Group OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Due to recent reports of avian flu outbreaks, the 51st Medical Group's Public Health flight have provided the following tips to help Team Osan members and their families protect themselves against the avian flu. -- Avoid any poultry from off-base sources -- Avoid any dishes off-base served with raw eggs (for example, bibimbap) -- Absolutely no poultry from street-vendors. -- Buy all poultry products on base. Poultry from the U.S. is uncontaminated -- Cook your poultry products thoroughly -- Instruct children to avoid any dead birds they may find -- Absolutely no visits to local poultry farms According to the Centers for Disease Control, avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. Although avian influenza A viruses usually do not infect humans, rare cases of human infection with avian influenza A viruses have been reported since 1996.