Bird Flu: An Ongoing Threat to Public Health
Avian influenza viruses naturally infect wild aquatic birds and can be transmitted from these animals to domestic poultry. Wild birds often do not display symptoms when infected; however, when transmitted to domesticated chicken, turkeys and other birds, avian influenza can cause serious illness and death. The origins of avian influenza viruses are believed to be migratory waterfowl, such as ducks, which act as natural hosts for influenza A viruses. There are various subtypes of avian influenza viruses based on combinations of proteins on their surface (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase). Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses usually only cause mild symptoms in birds, while highly pathogenic types such as H5N1 can spread rapidly in domestic flocks with high mortality rates approaching 100%.
While birds are the usual carriers and spreaders of bird flu, occasionally humans can also catch the virus, generally after direct unprotected contact with infected live or dead birds. This is referred to as avian influenza A virus infections in humans Bird Flu when it occurs. Sustained human-to-human transmission of these viruses has been very limited and inefficient.
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