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Avian influenza, also known as avian flu or bird flu, is a disease caused by the influenza A virus, which primarily affects birds but can sometimes affect mammals including humans. [1] Wild aquatic birds are the primary host of the influenza A virus, which is enzootic (continually present) in many bird populations.
Influenza A virus (IAV) is the only species of the genus Alphainfluenzavirus of the virus family Orthomyxoviridae. [1] It is a pathogen with strains that infect birds and some mammals, as well as causing seasonal flu in humans. [2]
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (A/H5N1) is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which causes the disease avian influenza (often referred to as "bird flu"). It is enzootic (maintained in the population) in many bird populations, and also panzootic (affecting animals of many species over a wide area). [ 1 ]
Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, mucus, and feces. The virus was first detected in poultry in 2013, since then spreading among wild bird populations and poultry around the world. Humans can be infected through unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. The virus transmits by getting into a person's eyes ...
A highly pathogenic strain of H5N9 caused an outbreak in 1966 in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada in turkeys, resulting in the slaughter of approximately 8,000 birds. [3] [4] In 1999 an H5 influenza A virus was isolated from a mallard in the Netherlands. [5] In 2008 An H5N9 virus was isolated from poultry in Aomori, Japan. [6]
Because of that, both avian and mammalian influenza viruses can infect pigs. If co-infection occurs, reassortment is possible. [20] A notable example of this was the reassortment of a swine, avian, and human influenza virus that caused the 2009 flu pandemic. [20] [4] Spillover events from humans to pigs appear to be more common than from pigs ...
Avian flu virus can last indefinitely at a temperature dozens of degrees below freezing, as is found in the northernmost areas that migratory birds frequent. [citation needed] Heat kills H5N1 (i.e. inactivates the virus). Influenza A viruses can survive: Over 30 days at 0 °C (32.0 °F) (over one month at freezing temperature)
Symptoms of avian influenza vary according to both the strain of virus underlying the infection, and on the species of bird affected. Symptoms of influenza in birds may include swollen head, watery eyes, unresponsiveness, lack of coordination, respiratory distress such as sneezing or gurgling. [27] Humans and other mammals can only become ...