Category: Avian Influenza
Bird flu vaccination policies by country
(Reuters) A growing number of countries are turning to vaccinations against avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, to stem one of the world’s worst outbreaks of the deadly virus. More than 30 countries have resorted to the use of vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since 2005, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said, […]
Feb 17, 2023
What Bird Flu Reminds Us About Influenza Pandemics
(MedPageToday) Amesh Adalja, MD It is inevitable that there will be a next influenza pandemic in humanity’s future. When it will occur and the identity of the culprit influenza strain are not fully answerable questions. There are myriad different avian influenza viruses constantly circulating, mutating, and regrouping in their natural waterfowl hosts. As such, the prolific […]
Feb 17, 2023
Bird flu continues to spread in mammals – what this means for humans and wildlife
(The Conversation) As bird flu continues to decimate poultry and wild bird populations around the world, the virus – a deadly strain called H5N1 – appears to be spreading to mammals. The virus has already been confirmed in foxes and otters in the UK, and more recently in four dead seals. Bird flu refers to influenza A […]
Feb 17, 2023
Explainer: What are the bird flu risks to people and animals?
(Reuters) Countries ranging from the United States and Britain to France and Japan have suffered record losses of poultry in outbreaks of avian flu in the past year. The disease, which experts said is being spread by migratory birds, reached South American nations such as Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia for the first time. SHOULD HUMANS WORRY ABOUT INFECTIONS? The risk to humans is low, said […]
Feb 15, 2023
Researchers ‘cannot rule out’ bird flu spreading between sea lions
(New Scientist) More than 600 sea lions have been found dead or dying on Peruvian beaches this year in the first mass mortality event of wild mammals from bird flu in South America. A mass outbreak of avian flu among sea lions in Peru has revived fears the virus could be passing between mammals. Since […]
Feb 14, 2023
Wild ducks found dead in Maine test positive for bird flu
(Maine News) Wildlife authorities in Maine said six wild ducks found dead in a stream in Winthrop have tested positive for bird flu. The hooded mergansers were found dead in Mill Stream and tested positive for a highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said Friday. The wildlife department said […]
Feb 14, 2023
Avian Flu hits migratory birds in north Louisiana(
(KTBS) The H5N1 Avian Flu is not just affecting poultry on farms. The virus has spread to migratory water fowl, and there are infected birds in north Louisiana. According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, several geese that died from the flu were discovered in late November. In September, the virus was also found […]
Feb 14, 2023
(NBC News) Adapted to birds, H5N1 has been found in various mammals, but it would need a complicated string of mutations to spread more easily in people. Hundreds of wild sea lions in South America, a farm of minks in Europe, and more than 58 million poultry birds have died. All of these animals fell victim to the impact of […]
Feb 14, 2023
Wild ducks found dead in Maine test positive for bird flu
(Boston) Wildlife authorities in Maine said six wild ducks found dead in a stream in Winthrop have tested positive for bird flu. The hooded mergansers were found dead in Mill Stream and tested positive for a highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said Friday. The wildlife department said the […]
Feb 13, 2023
As Bird Flu Spreads to Mammals, Health Officials Urge Caution
(Smithsonian Magazine) Amid a global bird die-off from avian flu, officials have also noticed the deadly virus strain, called H5N1, infecting a growing number of mammals. This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged authorities to remain vigilant—but not panic—about the virus’s potential risk to humans. “The recent spillover to mammals needs to be monitored […]
Feb 10, 2023