Avian Influenza

Avian influenza, known informally as avian flu, is a bird flu caused by the influenza A virus, which can infect people. It is similar to other types of animal flu in that it is caused by a virus strain that has adapted to a specific host. The type with the greatest risk is highly pathogenic avian influenza. Though influenza A is adapted to birds, it can also stably adapt and sustain person-to-person transmission. Recent influenza research into the genes of the Spanish flu virus shows it to have genes adapted from both human and avian strains. Pigs can also be infected with human, avian, and swine influenza viruses, allowing for mixtures of genes to create a new virus, which can cause an antigenic shift to a new influenza A virus subtype which most people have little to no immune protection against. Avian influenza strains are divided into two types based on their pathogenicity: high pathogenicity or low pathogenicity.

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Antarctica's Penguins Could Be Devastated by Avian Influenza

Bald eagles aren't fledging as many chicks due to avian influenza

In Peru, mass death of sea lions from avian influenza suggests virus could be spreading between mammals in the wild — A(H5N1) may have mutated in a way previously unseen in nature

Effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza on canids investigated

Hundreds Of Dead Birds In Martha’s Vineyard, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Suspected

Avian influenza: How it's spreading and what to know about this outbreak

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Resurgence of Bird Flu – Avian Influenza Virus – Raises Concern With Experts

Millions of birds have died in the US in recent weeks, because of a contagious strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, popularly known as bird flu.

USDA Boosts Wild Bird Surveillance For Avian Influenza | AgWeb

S. Carolina: Duck tests positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza | H5N1

Bird Flu: 2 People Dead In China From H5N6 Avian Influenza

High pathogenic Avian Influenza on Newfoundland exhibition farm, area under quarantine

Bird Flu Spreading: Here Are The Avian Influenza Outbreaks In Europe And Asia

Adjuvant-free avian influenza vaccines in the works

Global Spread of the Highly Pathogenic H5N8 Avian Influenza Virus Is a Serious Public Health Concern

Tracing and controlling High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza

First Human Cases Of H5N8 Avian Influenza Occur In Russia