Avian influenza — known informally as avian flu or bird flu — refers to “influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.” Most human contractions of the avian flu are a result of either handling dead infected birds or from contact with infected fluids.
Warning that the H5N1 virus responsible for bird flu could still transform itself into the next human influenza pandemic, a senior United Nations specialist has stressed the need to ensure that the world can respond promptly and effectively in the case of an outbreak.
A 12-year-old Indonesian boy from Tangerang District in Banten Province has died of bird flu, an Indonesian health ministry official said.
Last month a collaboration of European and Asian researchers launched a new attack against the deadly bird flu virus, harnessing the combined power of more than 40,000 computers across 45 countries to boost the pace of antiviral drug discovery.
Since it first appeared in Hong Kong in 1997, the H5N1 avian flu virus has been slowly evolving into a pathogen better equipped to infect humans. The final form of the virus, biomedical researchers fear, will be a highly pathogenic strain of influenza that spreads easily among humans.
Since it first appeared in Hong Kong in 1997, the H5N1 avian flu virus has been slowly evolving into a pathogen better equipped to infect humans. The final form of the virus, biomedical researchers fear, will be a highly pathogenic strain of influenza that spreads easily among humans.
The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 21-year-old male from Jakarta Province developed symptoms on 18 September, was hospitalized on 25 September and died in hospital on 28 September.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has completed the humane depopulation of birds on the farm in Saskatchewan where highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza was detected last week.
The Government of Canada has put in place movement restrictions to prevent the spread of avian influenza in Saskatchewan. Avian influenza is a highly contagious disease in birds. Movement of birds, bird products, or things that may have come in contact with birds may cause the spread of avian influenza.
Highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza (AI) has been found in chickens on a commercial operation in Saskatchewan one hour north of Regina. Pathogenicity refers to the severity of illness a virus causes in poultry.
Highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza has been detected in a commercial poultry operation in Saskatchewan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced. This virus is not the same as the strain circulating in Asia, Africa and Europe, which has been associated with human illness.