Disease or Syndrome
avian influenza
a·vi·an in·flu·en·za
Subclass of:
Orthomyxoviridae Infections;
Bird Diseases
Also called:
Bird Flu; Avian flu; Avian influenza; H5N1; H7N9
Definitions related to influenza in birds:
-
(bird flu) Birds, just like people, get the flu. Bird flu viruses infect birds, including chickens, other poultry, and wild birds such as ducks. Usually bird flu viruses only infect other birds. It is rare for people to get infected with bird flu viruses, but it can happen. Two types, H5N1 and H7N9, have infected some people during outbreaks in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. There have also been some rare cases of other types of bird flu affecting people in the United States. Most of the people who get bird flu have had close contact with infected birds or with surfaces that have been contaminated by the birds' saliva, mucous, or droppings. It is also possible to get it by breathing in droplets or dust that contain the virus. Rarely, the virus has spread from one person to another. It may also be possible to catch bird flu by eating poultry or eggs that are not well cooked. Bird flu illness in people can range from mild to severe.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
(avian influenza) A rare, infectious disease characterized by variable severity and outcome, ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection with fever and cough, to influenza-like illness with rapid progression to severe pneumonia, sepsis with shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome and even death. Additional manifestations may include conjunctivitis, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, multiple organ dysfunction, and encephalopathy.OrphaNetINSERM, 2021
-
(avian influenza) Infection caused by influenza A viruses that occur naturally in birds; wild birds can carry the viruses, but usually do not get sick from them; some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, can become infected, often fatally; one strain of avian influenza, the H5N1 virus, may infect various types of animals, including wild birds, pigs, and tigers; symptoms in birds and other animals vary, but virulent strains can cause death within a few days; human H5N1 infection was first recognized in 1997 in Hong Kong.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
-
Infection of domestic and wild fowl and other BIRDS with INFLUENZA A VIRUS. Avian influenza usually does not sicken birds, but can be highly pathogenic and fatal in domestic POULTRY.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Avian influenza is caused by strains of influenza A that normally infect only wild birds and domestic poultry. Infections due to some of these strains have been detected in humans. Human-to-human transmission is limited, most cases are acquired from animals, typically poultry.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
-
Bird flu is caused by a type of influenza virus that rarely infects humans. More than a dozen types of bird flu have been identified, including the two strains that have most recently infected humans - H5N1 and H7N9. When bird flu does strike humans, it can be deadly.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
-
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines avian influenza as a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that infect birds and, less commonly, pigs. Avian influenza A viruses are highly species-specific but have infected other mammals and, on rare occasions, have crossed the species barrier to infect humans. Highly pathogenic...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
-
Bird flu, a viral respiratory disease mainly of poultry and certain other bird species, including migratory waterbirds, some imported pet birds, and ostriches, that can be transmitted directly to humans. The first known cases in humans were reported in 1997, when an outbreak of avian influenza A...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> A
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.