1. Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a type of influenza that affects birds.
2. The virus is primarily spread through contact with infected birds or their feces.
3. Avian influenza can cause a range of symptoms in birds, from mild to severe, and can be fatal.
4. There are different subtypes of avian influenza, with H5 and H7 being the most virulent and easily transmissible to humans
5. Outbreaks of avian influenza can have significant economic impacts on the poultry industry.
6. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified certain strains of avian influenza as pandemic threats due to their potential to cause severe illness in humans.
7. The H5N1 strain of avian influenza, first identified in 1997, has caused several human cases and deaths.
8. In addition to birds, avian influenza can also infect humans, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe and potentially fatal.
9. Avian influenza is preventable through measures such as vaccination, quarantine, and culling infected birds.
10. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working to control and prevent the spread of avian influenza globally.