What are the potential routes for a pathogenic strain of avian influenza to arrive in North America?
Bird migration is only one possible route of introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 into North America. Illegal smuggling of birds and poultry products and travel by infected people or people traveling with virus-contaminated articles are possible means of introducing the new strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus into the United States.
