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Bird flu virus

Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These bird flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

There are many different subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes differ because of changes in certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus (hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase [NA] proteins). There are 16 known HA subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes of influenza A viruses. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination represents a different subtype. All known subtypes of influenza A viruses can be found in birds.

Usually, "bird flu virus" or “avian influenza virus” refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections with these viruses can occur in humans. The risk from avian influenza is generally low to most people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans.

However, confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian influenza infection have been reported since 1997. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions from infected birds. The spread of bird flu viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and has been limited, inefficient and unsustained.

“Human influenza virus” usually refers to those subtypes that spread widely among humans. There are only three known A subtypes of influenza viruses (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) currently circulating among humans. It is likely that some genetic parts of current human influenza A viruses came from birds originally. Influenza A viruses are constantly changing, and they might adapt over time to infect and spread among humans.

During an outbreak of bird flu among poultry, there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds. It is only if the birf flu virus mutates to become contagious amongst humans that it could spread easily between the populations of the world, and that is the potential global bird flu pandemic that is worrying so many health agencies around the world.

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bird flu virus - Google News
CDC begins national bird flu vaccination program - Focus Taiwan News Channel Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:17:11 GMT+00:00

Boston Globe

CDC begins national bird flu vaccination program
Focus Taiwan News Channel
... a nationwide program to provide free vaccinations against influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as bird flu, that is scheduled to last until Sept. ...
India Rejects H1N1 Shots After Vaccines Kill ChildrenPrison Planet.com
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Was H1N1 flu scare a costly 'hoax'?Green Valley News

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Study blames gulls, not storks, for bringing in bird flu - AsiaOne Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:15:19 GMT+00:00

AsiaOne

Study blames gulls, not storks, for bringing in bird flu
AsiaOne
"We have scientific evidence that a seagull was the carrier of the birdflu virus, not the openbill stork," said Professor Pilaipan Puthavathana of Mahidol ...

Satellite data reveal why migrating birds have a small window to spread bird flu - EurekAlert (press release) Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:10:53 GMT+00:00

Satellite data reveal why migrating birds have a small window to spread bird flu
EurekAlert (press release)
The highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus is primarily a disease of poultry, often resulting in mass mortality for infected flocks. However, the virus can ...

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Flagstaff Bird Tests Positive for West Nile Virus - Northern Arizona Today Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:53:33 GMT+00:00

Novinite.com

Flagstaff Bird Tests Positive for West Nile Virus
Northern Arizona Today
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause symptoms ranging from mild flu-like symptoms to severe neurological symptoms. ...
Two more cases of West Nile virus found in San Mateo CountyTri Valley Herald
West Nile picking up in IllinoisChampaign/Urbana News-Gazette (blog)
Bird confirmed to have West Nile in FlagstaffArizona Daily Sun
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Experts warn deadly bird flu could return - Bangkok Post Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:54:17 GMT+00:00

Experts warn deadly bird flu could return
Bangkok Post
The virologist said disease surveillance among pet dogs and cats was essential if bird flu virus re-emerged in the future. Studies had found H5N1 antigens ...

Swine Flu Pandemic: Rehearsal for the Future? - Christian Broadcasting Network Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:35:12 GMT+00:00

Los Angeles Times

Swine Flu Pandemic: Rehearsal for the Future?
Christian Broadcasting Network
Most flu vaccines, including last year's H1N1 vaccine, are manufactured by growing the flu virus in a chicken egg. But scientists want to do away with this ...
A panacea for flu pandemicsIrish Medical Times

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Tracking Bird Flu One Poop at a Time - Reuters Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:01:29 GMT+00:00

MedIndia

Tracking Bird Flu One Poop at a Time
Reuters
Evidence suggests that some duck species excrete much more flu virus than other birds, making the water birds prime disease spreaders via migratory travels ...
Mice trained to sniff out diseasemsnbc.com (blog)
Mice Track Bird Flu In Bird PooJabber Lounge
Mice Learn to Sniff Out Bird FluLiveScience.com
Scientific American -PhysOrg.com -Popular Science
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Most dangerous virus - Helium Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:58:01 GMT+00:00

Most dangerous virus
Helium
The Avian flu virus or H5N1flu virus is still lying in wait. Commonly known as the bird flu virus, this Influenza strain was able to bypass pigs, ...

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H1N1 Pandemic Is Over, Leaves Stocks to Remember (NVS, SNY, GSK, HEB, APT ... - tickerspy Newswire Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:24:52 GMT+00:00

Moneycontrol.com

Egypt - Bird flu stikes again - Meattradenewsdaily (blog) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:06:04 GMT+00:00

Egypt - Bird flu stikes again
Meattradenewsdaily (blog)
Egypt's Agriculture Minister Amin Abbaza said in July that his country has prepared a national strategy to eradicate bird flu in five years.

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