Avian Influenza In The United States

There are less than 1,000 cases of avian influenza, or bird flu, in the US every year. Even though that number seems to be low, that does not mean that it is something we shouldn’t be concerned about. Many people do not know what avian influenza is, what the symptoms are, or if there is any treatment for the disease. Avian influenza can be defined as a highly contagious viral disease with up to 100 percent mortality in birds, and 60 percent mortality in humans. It is caused by influenza A virus subtypes H5 and H7. All types of birds can obtain the virus, but outbreaks occur most often in chickens and turkeys. The infection may be brought by migratory wild birds that are carriers of the disease. Humans are only rarely affected. Symptoms