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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.
In September, Egypt and Sudan joined the list of nations seeing a resurgence of bird deaths due to H5N1. [citation needed] In November and December, South Korea and Vietnam joined the list of nations seeing a resurgence of bird deaths due to H5N1; February/March 2006 - A dead cat infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus was found in Germany. [26]
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]
Thousands of birds and animals were being culled in Germany to stop the spread. [11] In the United Kingdom the flu was found in a wild duck at a turkey farm in Lincolnshire. [12] In South Korea, a record total of 18.4 million birds had been killed by December since the first outbreak of avian flu was reported at a farm on Nov. 18. [13]
Infected birds pass on H5N1 through their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Other birds may pick up the virus through direct contact with these excretions or when they have contact with surfaces contaminated with this material. Because migratory birds are among the carriers of the H5N1 virus it may spread to all parts of the world.
China announced a fresh outbreak of bird flu, saying 2,600 birds have died from the disease in Inner Mongolia. The deaths, at a farm near the region's capital of Hohhot, were due to the H5N1 strain, the Xinhua news agency said. Locations of 2005 outbreaks in Croatia. October 26, 2005 Croatia announced H5N1 strain was found in dead swans. [14] [15]
Although a wide variety of bird species have been shown to contract and spread Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, from waterfowl to poultry and birds of prey, mammalian infections have been of particular interest to researchers due to their potential to develop mutations that increase the risk of mammal-to-mammal spread and transmission to and among humans.
Influenza A virus subtype H7N9 (A/H7N9) is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which causes influenza (flu), predominantly in birds. It is enzootic (maintained in the population) in many bird populations. [1] The virus can spread rapidly through poultry flocks and among wild birds; it can also infect humans that have been exposed to infected ...