Volume 14, Number 4—April 2008
Letter
Avian Influenza Knowledge among Medical Students, Iran
Kamyar Ghabili*
, Mohammadali M. Shoja*, and Pooya Kamran*
, Mohammadali M. Shoja*, and Pooya Kamran*Table
Respondents’ knowledge of avian influenza (n = 234), Iran, May 2006*
| Questions | Correct answer | % Yes | % No | % Don’t know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| History | ||||
| 1. The first case of human infection with bird flu virus occurred in Hong Kong in 1997. | Yes | 27.7 | 3.2 | 69.1 |
| 2. Most fatal cases of bird flu have been reported in Vietnam. |
Yes |
28 |
2.2 |
69.9 |
| General information | ||||
| 3. Influenza virus occurs naturally among wild birds. | Yes | 14.3 | 63.7 | 22 |
| 4. Bird flu may be transmitted into other mammals such as horses and pigs. |
Yes |
25.3 |
19.8 |
54.9 |
| Transmission | ||||
| 5. Transmission of the disease from person to person is possible. | Yes | 47.3 | 19.8 | 33 |
| 6. Main modes of transmission are through saliva and nasal secretions. | Yes | 54.2 | 13.5 | 32.3 |
| 7. Bird flu virus can be transmitted into persons through the alimentary tract. | No | 74.2 | 15.7 | 10.1 |
| 8. Bird flu is transmitted into humans through handling and cleaning of contaminated game. | Yes | 41.3 | 37 | 21.7 |
| 9. The consumption of contaminated chicken as broiler would have the risk of affliction. | Yes | 72.2 | 21.1 | 6.7 |
| 10. Cooking eggs as soft-boiled eliminates the virus. |
No |
19.1 |
68.5 |
12.4 |
| Diagnosis | ||||
| 11. A laboratory test is needed to confirm bird flu in humans. |
Yes |
10 |
83 |
7 |
| Clinical presentations | ||||
| 12. Respiratory tract is the main infected system in the body. | Yes | 59.8 | 9.2 | 31 |
| 13. The incubation period of bird flu is ≈7 days. | Yes | 13.6 | 2.3 | 84.1 |
| 14. Symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to seasonal influenza. | Yes | 20 | 11 | 69 |
| 15. Bleeding from the nose and bleeding from the gums are early symptoms of bird flu. | Yes | 2 | 13 | 85 |
| 16. Bloody diarrhea (dysentery) is one of the manifestations of bird flu. |
No |
30.8 |
8.8 |
60.4 |
| Prevention | ||||
| 17. Bird flu is a preventable infection. | Yes | 86 | 4.3 | 9.7 |
| 18. There is a vaccine to protect humans from bird flu virus. | No | 20.9 | 37.4 | 41.8 |
