What is avian influenza?
A. Avian influenza (AI) is a disease caused by a virus that infects domestic poultry and wild birds. Some forms of the flu are worse than others. Wild birds–including shorebirds and waterfowl–are natural reservoirs for more than 140 avian influenza viruses. AI strains are divided into two groups based on their “pathogenicity,” or the ability of the virus to cause disease: • Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI): Most AI strains are classified as low pathogenicity and cause few symptoms in infected birds. LPAI generally does not pose a significant health threat to humans. With rare exception, the majority of flu viruses found in wild birds has been low pathogenic avian influenza and have seldom been associated with signs of illness. Low pathogenic avian influenza occurs routinely in North America and across the world. • High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): This type of avian influenza is can be fatal to and is easily transmitted between susceptible bird species. The strain that is
Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. Avian influenza viruses are highly species-specific, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans. In domestic poultry, infection with avian influenza viruses causes two main forms of disease, distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The so-called “low pathogenic” form commonly causes only mild symptoms (ruffled feathers, a drop in egg production) and may easily go undetected. The highly pathogenic form is far more dramatic. It spreads very rapidly through poultry flocks, causes disease affecting multiple internal organs, and has a mortality rate that can approach 100 percent, often within 48 hours.
As the name suggests, avian influenza refers to the infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These viruses are commonly found in intestines of wild birds and these birds can carry the viruses without getting sick. However the viruses can be pathogenic to domesticated birds like chickens, ducks and turkeys. Domesticated birds become infected through exposure to other birds or through surfaces contaminated by secretions and faeces of the infected birds. These viruses are classified as Low Pathogenicity and High Pathogenicity. Most strains of Avian Influenza come under Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI) Group and produce mild symptoms in the infected birds. Common symptoms are ruffled feathers, decreased food appetite, decreased egg production, sneezing and coughing. Many times LPAI may go undetected. High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) has more severe symptoms which include sudden death, loss of energy and appetite, decreased egg production, respiratory probl
Avian influenza, or “bird flu”, is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. Avian influenza viruses are highly species-specific, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans. In domestic poultry, infection with avian influenza viruses causes two main forms of disease, distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The so-called “low pathogenic” form commonly causes only mild symptoms (ruffled feathers, a drop in egg production) and may easily go undetected. The highly pathogenic form is far more dramatic. It spreads very rapidly through poultry flocks, causes disease affecting multiple internal organs, and has a mortality that can approach 100%, often within 48 hours.
Avian influenza (also referred to as AI or ‘bird flu’) is a contagious disease that affects birds. Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, quail, pheasants and ostriches are susceptible to AI. However, disease outbreaks occur most frequently in chickens and turkeys. Many species of wild birds, including waterfowl and seabirds, can carry the virus without showing clinical signs of the disease. There are a number of different strains of the virus. Some strains will only cause mild signs in domestic poultry whilst others will spread rapidly through a poultry flock and cause severe disease and high mortalities. The transmission of AI from birds to humans is a rare event, but can occasionally occur with some strains of the AI virus. AI is an exotic disease and there have been no reported cases of AI in birds in Australia since 1997. South Australia has high capacity to quickly isolate and stamp out outbreaks, including AI.
