Posts Tagged pathogenic avian influenza
Avian Flu and Pandemic Flu
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a contagious animal disease. Researchers believe the H5N1 virus can infect all bird species, but domesticated poultry are particularly vulnerable. Outbreaks have been attributed to contact between domestic birds and wild waterfowl via shared water sources, as well as to illegal trade in sick poultry and chicken feed by industrial farms.
Over the last twelve months, the disease has gone global, spreading rapidly beyond its East Asian stronghold to countries in South Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (see Figure 1). 55 countries reported H5N1 outbreaks, most of them since January 2006. The impact is severe – an estimated 220 million bird deaths and significant damage to rural livelihoods, especially in the poorest areas.
Tags: avian, avian flu, avian influenza, birds, flu pandemic, h5n1 virus, highly pathogenic avian influenza, influenza, pandemic, pathogenic avian influenzaRelated posts