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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.


bird flu virus - Google News
Indonesia slaughters birds, awaits flu tests - AFP Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:15:46 GMT

Vancouver Sun

Indonesia slaughters birds, awaits flu tests
AFP - 4 hours ago
"They will be in the village of Air Batu for two days to investigate the source of the suspected bird flu virus in the area and to check on the death of ...
13 People Hospitalized With Bird Flu Symptoms TopNews
Bird flu outbreak in Indonesia Scotsman
Indonesia testing 13 for bird flu in Sumatra village Reuters India
The Press Association - International Herald Tribune
all 81 news articles
Farmer charged in bird flu case - BBC News Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:42:45 GMT

Farmer charged in bird flu case
BBC News, UK - 11 hours ago
A Suffolk farmer whose business was at the centre of a bird flu outbreak has been charged with breaching regulations intended to limit its spread. ...
Bird flu farmer faces court action East Anglian Daily Times
Farmer fined after bird flu breaches Ipswich Evening Star
Farmer in court over bird flu breaches Fenland Today
all 7 news articles
GPs might take flight in bird flu crisis - The Australian Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:03:45 GMT

GPs might take flight in bird flu crisis
The Australian, Australia - 5 hours ago
A SIGNIFICANT minority of GPs might stay at home and decline to treat patients in the event of a bird flu pandemic, for fear that they or their families ...
Bird flu claims one in Indonesia - Independent Online Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:59:47 GMT

Bird flu claims one in Indonesia
Independent Online, South Africa - Aug 4, 2008
Jakarta - The death toll from bird flu in Indonesia has risen to 112 after a 19-year-old man died from the virus last week, a health ministry official said ...
Bird flu kills Indonesian teenager Belfast Telegraph
Bird flu claims 112th Indonesian victim Bangkok Post
Indonesian man dies of bird flu, brings toll to 111 Reuters
Xinhua - RTT News
all 160 news articles
Bird Flu: Govt Disinfects Farms - This Day Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:46:48 GMT

Bird Flu: Govt Disinfects Farms
This Day, Nigeria - Aug 7, 2008
He said disinfection of live bird markets and poultry farms is one of the important strategies adopted to prevent spread of the virus and expressed his ...
Possible Bird Flu cluster in Indonesia has doctors worried Blogger News Network
all 3 news articles
Listening needed to communicate bird flu risks - Jakarta Post Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:19:06 GMT

Listening needed to communicate bird flu risks
Jakarta Post, Indonesia - Aug 5, 2008
Rather than being satisfied with the various kinds of one-size-fits-all "Beat The Bird Flu" campaigns, journalists need to lend their ears more to the ...
No compensation yet for Bird Flu victims - The Statesman Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:27:46 GMT

No compensation yet for Bird Flu victims
The Statesman, India - Aug 5, 2008
... compensation for the retail traders who could not do business for three months after detection of Bird Flu virus at a state poultry farm in March 2008. ...
Lonza wins EPA approval to test bird flu-fighting formula - Portsmouth Herald News Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:19:03 GMT

Lonza wins EPA approval to test bird flu-fighting formula
Portsmouth Herald News, NH - Aug 5, 2008
"As one of the first companies to obtain EPA approval to make claims against the H5N1 'bird flu' virus, Lonza continues to lead the way in meeting the ...
Cat Infected With Bird Flu Virus - 코리아타임즈 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:01:45 GMT

Cat Infected With Bird Flu Virus
코리아타임즈, South Korea - Jul 28, 2008
A cat found dead in April had been infected with the virulent strain of the bird flu influenza, the government confirmed Monday. ...
Bird flu hits one more Vietnamese province - Xinhua Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:14:22 GMT

Bird flu hits one more Vietnamese province
Xinhua, China - Aug 5, 2008
... whose specimens have recently been tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1, the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and ...
NIGER-NIGERIA: Border on high-alert for bird flu Reuters AlertNet
all 6 news articles