Is there currently a public health risk associated with HPAI H5N1 in wild birds?
• In the United States there currently is no recognized public health risk associated with wild bird contact. • All human deaths associated with bird-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses have occurred in Asia and all have involved the HPAI H5N1 viruses. Human cases in Asia have occurred in connection with extensive infections in domestic poultry. • Other H5, H7 and H9 avian influenza viruses have been transmitted directly from infected domestic birds to humans. These events have involved HPAI and Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) viruses, but all have involved direct contact with infected poultry. • There has never been a single documented case of avian influenza virus transmission directly from wild birds to humans. • There is no indication that wild waterfowl species hunted in North America are infected with HPAI H5N1. • Although there currently is no recognized health risk associated with HPAI H5N1 and hunting waterfowl or other wild birds in North America, hunters a
