Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
Study highlights the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus among non-domesticated animals in the U.S., revealing neurological symptoms as a key clinical presentation and expanding the range of species affected by this Eurasian lineage virus.
Scoping review in "Pediatric Research" examines the rise of pediatric viral diseases in the 21st century and underscores the importance of a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and ecosystem health, to combat these emerging and re-emerging infectious threats effectively.
Simon Fraser University researchers studying the evolutionary history of flu viruses have found that a new quantitative analysis of how they evolved may help predict future strains.
Over 5,000 Peruvian sea lions, approximately 5% of Peru's population, succumbed to a mass mortality event linked to the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, signaling an urgent need for research and conservation efforts to prevent further declines. The rapid spread of the virus among these colonially breeding mammals highlights potential risks of cross-species transmission and the necessity for heightened monitoring to avert new pandemics.
A recent study published in Nature sheds light on the complex dynamics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 2021, uncovering critical shifts in the virus's behavior and providing insights for more effective mitigation strategies. The research emphasizes the importance of understanding the ecological and virological factors driving the intensified global activity of HPAI H5N1 to better prepare for and manage future outbreaks.
Researchers report significant changes in the ecology and evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses.
Researchers use CRISPR technology to create chickens resistant to avian influenza, targeting specific genes to inhibit viral replication. The study reveals both the promise and complexities of using genetic editing as a disease control strategy, also shedding light on influenza's adaptability.
Researchers discovered molnupiravir-associated mutational signatures in SARS-CoV-2 genomes.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has agreed a deal for millions of life-saving vaccines to be produced in the UK if a future influenza pandemic is ever declared.
The monkeypox (mpox) virus has caused worldwide transmission since its initial report in England in early May 2022.
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort analysis over two years.
A new study from researchers in China and Nottingham has discovered that a subtype of avian flu virus, endemic in poultry farms in China, is undergoing mutational changes, which could increase the risk of the disease being passed on to humans.
Researchers presented serological evidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus infection in a pet cat and five dogs on a rural poultry farm in Italy.
Finnish authorities have said that due to the ongoing outbreak of Highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu on 25 farms across the country they will now have to cull 120,000 animals.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today unveiled its world-leading Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC), which is building on its pandemic legacy and helping develop life-saving new vaccines for the UK and worldwide.
The new strategy sets out UKHSA's vision and goals for the next 3 years to prepare for and respond to health threats and build the capabilities and technologies to protect the country in the future.
Europe has faced its fair share of animal health crises, like the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, Avian influenza in the Netherlands (2003), and African swine fever. But what about the diseases present in many countries that don't grab the headlines?
Today, on World Zoonosis Day, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS flags that governments have not learnt the lesson from COVID-19 that human, environmental and animal health must be addressed together to prevent another pandemic.
Study describes the identification of a highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus in a domestic cat.
Researchers analyzed epidemiologic and phylogeographic characteristics of the avian influenza virus.