Is there a domestic animal health risk associated with HPAI in wild birds?
• There have been many documented cases of low pathogenic avian influenza virus transmission from wild birds to domestic birds. This is especially true for free-ranging domestic flocks that have direct contact with wild ducks. • In the United States there are no documented cases of HPAI transmission from a wild bird to domestic birds, and it is believed that most HPAI viruses evolve after an H5 or H7 virus becomes established in domestic bird populations. • In Asia the recent expansion in distribution of HPAI H5N1 Asia suggests that domestic flocks are being infected with this virus through contact with migratory wild birds. What is the possibility of HPAI H5N1 entering North America via migratory wild birds? • Some migratory bird species move between North America, Asia and Europe. However, genetic studies of avian influenza viruses from Eurasia and North America suggest there is very limited exchange of AIVs between continents, even with very common influenza viruses. • It is not pos
