During the first half of the last century the flu was something to be taken seriously. Once stricken, you were pretty much quarantined until you were symptom free. In more recent times, the flu has ceased to worry us. We take our over-the-counter remedies to relieve our symptoms and cruise on with barely a blip in our daily routine. Recently, however, the SARS outbreak changed our perception of the flu and the avian flu, or bird flue, promises to change it even further.

As a pregnant woman, you may have even more concerns and questions about the avian flu. How can it affect my unborn child? Is there anything special I should be doing?

Dr. Talmage Holmes, relationship manager for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Battelle Memorial Institute's Division of Health and Life Sciences Center in Columbus, Ohio, says the avian flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. He believes pregnant women should not have any special worries.

"Pregnant women are at no greater risk than others," says Dr. Holmes. "Until there has been mutation or re-assortment of the avian flu virus' genetic material, the risk to all humans is very low unless there is direct contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated with the feces of contaminated birds."

"These flu viruses occur naturally among birds," says Dr. Holmes, citing a recent CDC report. "Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian flu is very contagious and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks and turkeys, very sick and kill them."

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