Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza is a virus that infects wild birds (such as ducks, gulls, and shorebirds) and domestic poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese). There are flu virus variants for birds just as there are for humans and, as with people, some forms of the flu are worse than others. Infected birds shed avian influenza virus through their saliva, mucous and feces.

Avian influenza viruses are either high or low pathogenic viruses (HPAI and LPAI, respectively) depending on the molecular characteristic of the virus and its ability to cause disease and mortality in chickens.

Poultry infected with LPAI viruses may show mild signs of the disease or none at all. Infections caused by HPAI can cause death. Both HPAI and LPAI can spread quickly through flocks.

Avian Influenza viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with avian Influenza viruses have occurred. Human infections with avian influenza viruses can happen when virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. Illness in humans from avian influenza virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death.
Avian Influenza