What are the different types of avian influenza?
Table of Contents
What are the different types of avian influenza?
Five subtypes of avian influenza A viruses are known to have caused human infections (H5, H6, H7, H9, and H10 viruses). The most frequently identified subtypes of avian influenza A viruses that have caused human infections are H5, H7 and H9 viruses.
What type of disease is avian influenza?
Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans.
What does avian influenza do?
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) means that the virus causes a mild disease like ruffled feathers and decreased egg production. High pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) causes severe disease and is extremely contagious. HPAI can cause up to 100% of an infected flock to die.
How is avian influenza caused?
Bird flu occurs naturally in wild waterfowl and can spread into domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. The disease is transmitted via contact with an infected bird’s feces, or secretions from its nose, mouth or eyes.
What is the common name of avian influenza?
H5N1. The highly pathogenic influenza A virus subtype H5N1 is an emerging avian influenza virus that is causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat. It is often referred to simply as “bird flu” or “avian influenza”, even though it is only one of many subtypes.
How is avian influenza prevented?
Things you can do to prevent bird flu
- wash your hands often with warm water and soap, especially before and after handling food, in particular raw poultry.
- use different utensils for cooked and raw meat.
- make sure meat is cooked until steaming hot.
- avoid contact with live birds and poultry.
Is there a vaccine for avian flu?
While avian flu vaccines are currently available, they are not being used on a large scale on poultry farms because this hinders the ability to conduct surveillance testing, which helps detect the virus in unvaccinated flocks and limit the spread of the disease.
What kills avian flu?
The proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including H5N1 bird flu viruses.
