Can people get avian influenza?
While rare, human infections with avian influenza viruses have occurred. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the risk to the general public from HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks, and commercial poultry, to be low.
To date, no humans or other mammals have shown signs of disease from the HPAI viruses found in North America but field personnel handling live or dead wild birds should take appropriate precautions including wearing protective clothing when handling sick wildlife or potentially diseased wildlife or carcasses.
Learn more: USGS Avian Influenza
Related Content
Are birds the only species that is susceptible to West Nile Virus infection?
Can wild birds spread avian influenza to domestic poultry?
How do scientists study avian influenza in wild birds?
What is the difference between low pathogenic and highly pathogenic avian influenza?
What is the meaning of the numbers next to the “H” and “N” in avian influenza designations?
What are the different types of avian influenza?
What is Avian Influenza?
Information to prevent human exposure to disease agents associated with wildlife—U.S. Geological Survey circulars on zoonotic disease
The U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others have published reports with information about geographic distribution, specific pathogens, disease ecology, and strategies to avoid exposure and infection for a selection of zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be passed from...
Meteyer, Carol U.; Moede Rogall, Gail
USGS highly pathogenic avian influenza research strategy
Avian influenza viruses are naturally occurring in wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans, and gulls. These viruses generally do not cause illness in wild birds, however, when spread to poultry they can be highly pathogenic and cause illness and death in backyard and commercial farms. Outbreaks may cause devastating agricultural economic losses...
Harris, M. Camille; Miles, A. Keith; Pearce, John M.; Prosser, Diann J.; Sleeman, Jonathan M.; Whalen, Mary E.
USGS role and response to highly pathogenic avian influenza
Avian influenza viruses are naturally occurring in wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans, and gulls. These viruses generally do not cause illness in wild birds, however, when spread to poultry they can be highly pathogenic and cause illness and death in backyard and commercial farms. Outbreaks may cause devastating agricultural economic losses...
Harris, M. Camille; Miles, A. Keith; Pearce, John M.; Prosser, Diann J.; Sleeman, Jonathan M.; Whalen, Mary E.
Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases
Welcome to a new version of the “Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases.” Unlike the previous printed versions of this publication, this new version is being developed as a “living“ electronic publication. Content will periodically be added and (or) updated as warranted, and it will always be reviewed by scientific experts (...
Franson, J. Christian; Friend, Milton; Gibbs, Samantha E. J.; Wild, Margaret A.
Why bother about wildlife disease?
In most developed countries, the maintenance of the numbers of wildlife1 is vested in the natural resource agencies of those countries. During earlier times, game species were the primary focus of natural resource agencies2,3 however, current wildlife conservation continues to transition towards a more holistic focus on biodiversity4...
Friend, Milton
U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 2011 report of selected wildlife diseases
The National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) was founded in 1975 to provide technical assistance in identifying, controlling, and preventing wildlife losses from diseases, conduct research to understand the impact of diseases on wildlife populations, and devise methods to more effectively manage these disease threats. The impetus behind the creation...
Green, David E.; Hines, Megan K.; Russell, Robin E.; Sleeman, Jonathan M.
Surveillance plan for the early detection of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in migratory birds in the United States: surveillance year 2009
Executive Summary: This Surveillance Plan (Plan) describes plans for conducting surveillance of wild birds in the United States and its Territories and Freely-Associated States to provide for early detection of the introduction of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) subtype of the influenza A virus by migratory birds during the 2009...
Brand, Christopher J.
Disease emergence and resurgence—the wildlife-human connection
In 2000, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) was organized as a global disease watchdog group to coordinate disease outbreak information and health crisis response. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the headquarters for this network. Understandably, the primary focus for WHO is human health. However, diseases such as the...
Friend, Milton; Hurley, James W.; Nol, Pauline; Wesenberg, Katherine
Avian Flu From Abroad Can Spread in North American Poultry, Wild Birds
Some avian influenza, or bird flu, viruses that are able to enter North America from other continents through migrating birds can be deadly to poultry and can infect waterfowl populations, according to a recently published U.S. Geological Survey study.
Unusual Suspects: Diving Ducks and Avian influenza
Due to the global threat to health and human safety posed by avian influenza monitoring has been conducted in the United States to determine the prevalence of such viruses in our wild waterfowl.
Avian Flu Testing of Wild Ducks Informs Biosecurity and Can Reduce Economic Loss
Ducks in North America can be carriers of avian influenza viruses similar to those found in a 2016 outbreak in Indiana that led to the losses of hundreds of thousands of chickens and turkeys, according to a recent study.
Alaska Still a Likely Portal for Avian Influenza
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The U.S. Geological Survey released additional evidence that western Alaska remains a hot spot for avian influenza to enter North America.
USGS Statement Regarding Avian Flu Found in Washington State Green-Winged Teal
Some media are reporting that the Asian H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has now entered the United States. This is incorrect.
Avian Flu in Seals Could Infect People
The avian flu virus that caused widespread harbor seal deaths in 2011 can easily spread to and infect other mammals and potentially humans.
North Atlantic May Be a New Route for Spread of Avian Flu to North America
The North Atlantic region is a newly discovered important pathway for avian influenza to move between Europe and North America, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report published today.
Collecting a sample to test for Avian Influenza
Avian influenza among wild waterfowl is a concern among resource managers and owners of domestic fowl. The scientists take a sample to process at the lab.
Avian Influenza: A Wild and Domestic Disease
Potential spread of highly pathogenic H5N1 strains by wild migratory ducks. H5N1 strains isolated from outbreaks in South Korea, Russia, and Japan from April to May 2008 were closely related to each other and to strains isolated from Dongting Lake in March 2008 from domestic chickens, ducks, and water. (Cappelle et al. 2014, EcoHealth).
Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model Web Application
Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model Web Application -- Screen shot of an interactive web application that provides visualizations of avian influenza virus risk factors and models at the interface of wild and domestic birds. - A virtual tour
...
Avian influenza virus
Digitally-colorized negative-stained transmission electron micrograph of avian influenza viruses. Credit CDC/F.A. Murphy
Visual History of Worldwide Avian Influenza Outbreaks
For more information on avian influenza, see http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai. Two currently circulating avian influenza viruses, highly pathogenic A(H5N1) and low pathogenic A(H7N9) (hereafter H5N1 and H7N9) are of particular concern due to their high case-fatality rates (approximately 60 and 30% currently), and economic impact to the
Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model Web Application Virtual Tour
The Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model web application depicts the intricate connections between 16 layers of administrative, environmental, and economic data in an application that runs inside a web browser. To view and manipulate the full web application, please visit http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai. The full web application
Emperor Geese, central coast, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge
USGS Avian Flu Research
A biological technician of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center tests chicken eggs inoculated with a field sample from wild birds to detect the presence of avian influenza virus.
PubTalk 10/2014 — Wolf and Elk Diseases in Yellowstone
by Paul Cross, USGS Research Wildlife Biologist
- What can diseases of wildlife tell us about the emergence of human pandemics?
- Why is a bacterial disease expanding to animals beyond the Greater Yellowstone area?
- How are diseases affecting Yellowstone wolves?
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Releasing Forster’s Tern Chicks after Sampling for Avian Flu
Scientists prepare to release Forster's Tern chicks following sampling for avian influenza study.