Avian influenza, sometimes avian flu, and commonly bird flu, refers to \"influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.\" Of the greatest concern is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
\"Bird flu\" is a phrase similar to \"swine flu,\" \"dog flu,\" \"horse flu,\" or \"human flu\" in that it refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the species influenza A virus. All subtypes (but not all strains of all subtypes) of influenza A virus are adapted to birds, which is why for many purposes avian flu virus is the influenza A virus (note that the \"A\" does not stand for \"avian\").
Adaptation is non-exclusive. Being adapted towards a particular species does not preclude adaptations, or partial adaptations, towards infecting different species. In this way strains of influenza viruses are adapted to multiple species, though may be preferential towards a particular host. For example, viruses responsible for influenza pandemics are adapted to both humans and birds. Recent influenza research into the genes of the Spanish flu virus shows it to have genes adapted to both birds and humans; with more of its genes from birds than less deadly later pandemic strains.
Headlines Around the Web
Nigeria: Bird Flu-Affected Farmers Paid N11.5 Million Compensation
May 30, 2011 - AllAfrica News
South Africa: Thousands of Ostriches Culled in Avian Flu Outbreak
May 25, 2011 - AllAfrica News
S.Korea battles spread of foot-and-mouth, bird flu
Jan 02, 2011 - France24
Articles About Avian influenza
Bird 'Poops' Used in Facial Powder at High-Class Spa? Can it Transmit Infectious Disease such as 'Bird Flu'?
By IBTimes AU
Droppings from a type of bird called Nightingale are used frequently for facials at high-class spas and allegedly to do softening, brightening and nourishing of the face. But how does it smell after? Can infected Nightingale transmit diseases such as... (May 17)
China Bird Flu: Taiwan Includes Hunan Province in Alert List for Travelers to China
By IBTimes AU
Hunan Province has been included in Taiwan's alert list for travelers bound for China, with the total number of areas now reaching 10. Taiwan first issued the travel health advisory Thursday last week, April 25. (Apr 29)
H7N9 Bird Flu Spreads Outside Mainland China as Taiwan Reports First Case
By IBTimes UK
Taiwanese man in serious condition from virus scientists describe as unusually dangerous. (Apr 25)
H7N9 Bird Flu 'One of Most Lethal Influenza Viruses' and Greater Risk than H5N1 [VIDEO]
By IBTimes UK
WHO says new strain of avian influenza moves from birds to humans more easily than previous outbreak. (Apr 24)
China: H7N9 Bird Flu Death Toll Hits 20 but Source Still Unknown
By IBTimes UK
More than 100 cases confirmed as WHO warns of more infections to come. (Apr 22)
China Bird Flu: Some of Infected Didn’t Have Contact With Poultry – WHO
By IBTimes AU
Fears further escalated that the new avian influenza A H7N9 may indeed be transmitted through human contact after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that some of those currently infected in China did not have had any contact at all with poultry. (Apr 18)
China's bird flu death toll rises to 16, government warns of spread
By Reuters UK
Two more people in China have died from a new strain of avian influenza, bringing to 16 the number of deaths from the H7N9 virus, and the government has warned that the number of infections could rise. (Apr 17)
China Bird Flu Pandemic: Deaths Now at 16, Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicines Fly Off the Shelves
By IBTimes AU
The death toll from the new avian influenza A H7N9 in China has now reached 16, with the number of infected people likewise rising to 77 cases, all in just two weeks' time. (Apr 17)
China says bird flu death toll rises to 14
By Reuters UK
China reported another death and three new infections from a new strain of avian influenza known as H7N9 on Monday, bringing the total death toll to 14 and the number of infections to 63, the official Xinhua News Agency said. (Apr 15)
China Bird Flu Pandemic: Even as Strain Spreads to Other Parts of China, It Still ‘Is Nothing Out of the Ordinary’ – WHO
By IBTimes AU
The new avian influenza A H7N9 virus gripping China has spread out to other parts of the country, yet disease experts continued to downplay an outbreak, claiming it still "is nothing out of the ordinary. (Apr 15)
