What is avian influenza and “bird flu”?
Like humans, birds have naturally occurring influenza (flu) viruses. There are numerous types of avian influenza viruses that are carried by wild bird species throughout the world, but these viruses usually do not cause disease in these birds. Occasionally, some of these viruses can infect domestic birds such as poultry, but typically we do not see direct transmission of avian influenza viruses from birds to humans. “Bird flu” is a non-scientific term that refers to a specific virus (H5N1) that has been present in domestic birds in Asia since 1997. It has caused outbreaks of disease in poultry throughout SE Asia, Africa, and Europe. Millions of birds have died or have been culled due to the disease. This particular virus has also been associated with some human infections.
