Does Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) make birds too sick to move around?
Asian lineage HPAI H5N1 outbreaks in wild birds have resulted in mortality of infected birds followed presumably by rapid die-out of the infection in the wild. However, more recent evidence of asymptomatic infection in wild birds suggests that some infected birds may be able to undertake normal movements, including seasonal migratory movements. The appearance of Asian lineage HPAI H5N1 in wild Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) and its spread through parts of Europe in this species suggests that some Mute Swans are becoming infected and are then still able to move to new areas. However, we still have limited evidence that other wild bird species have become infected and then carried the virus to new areas, although recent outbreaks in wild birds in Europe in the absence of prior infection in poultry strongly suggests that this is the case.
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- Does Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) make birds too sick to move around?
