A laboratory test is needed to confirm avian influenza in humans. What are the implications of avian influenza to human health?
back to section Two main risks for human health from avian influenza are 1) the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from the infected bird to humans, sometimes resulting in severe disease; and 2) the risk that the virus – if given enough opportunities – will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person.back to section Q.
