OKLAHOMA CITY -- From movies to the evening news, information consumers have been hearing all sorts of things about the bird flu. Sometimes it's tough to separate fact from fiction.

However, Eyewitness News 5's Kate Godwin has done just that, finding out what's real and what's merely rumor.

Worldwide, dozens of people have died from Avian Flu, and the disease is spreading across the globe. However, having the wrong information about the effects of bird flu on humans is as dangerous as having no information at all.

Myth No. 1: Bird flu can be passed from human to human.

For now, experts said, avian flu is merely a birdborne disease. Those sick from it had direct contact either with sick birds or their droppings. They didn't catch the disease from each other.

Myth No. 2: If the bird flu enters the United States, it will lead to a flu pandemic.

If the virus remains in its current form, which is unlikely, people would not be able to spread this strain of the disease to one another. However, the potential exists for this virus to mutate -- change slightly -- such that it becomes transmissible from person to person.

Health officials said the good news is that scientists have been tracking the disease for more than nine years, and it hasn't mutated so far.

Myth No. 3: Bird flu can be passed through food.

U.S. poultry producers have strict measures in place to keep their birds from mixing with wild birds, specifically to help curb the spread of bird flu. Furthermore, thoroughly cooking poultry to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees will kill the bird flu virus.

Myth No. 4: Stocking up on antibiotics is a good idea.

Antibiotics kill bacteria. The bird flu is a virus.

So, just how many people in the United States would actually die if the bird flu mutated and spread from person to person? Thousands? Millions?

According to health experts, there is no way to know until the virus goes through a mutation. However, nature dictates that it's not in the best interest of a virus to kill its host. A mutated form could also be a milder form.

The people who have died so far all lived in underdeveloped countries with healthcare systems much less advanced than ours.

Myth No. 5: There's nothing we can do to stop the spread of a pandemic flu should one occur.

You can actually protect you and your family from any flu virus. Wash your hands frequently and use alcohol-based hand gels if you don't have access to soap.

Avoid sharing keyboards and phones, and sanitize them regularly. Also, cover coughs and dispose of tissues quickly.

Finally, if you feel sick, stay at home.