Sunday, May 27, 2012 4:55 AM EDT
Avian influenza, sometimes avian flu, and commonly bird flu, refers to "influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds." Of the greatest concern is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
"Bird flu" is a phrase similar to "swine flu," "dog flu," "horse flu," or "human flu" in that it refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the species influenza A virus. All subtypes (but not all strains of all subtypes) of influenza A virus are adapted to birds, which is why for many purposes avian flu virus is the influenza A virus (note that the "A" does not stand for "avian"). Read More
By IBTimes UK
A huge controversy has erupted after a group of scientists created an incredibly lethal, hyper-contagious bird flu virus so they can come up with a vaccine to prevent it. The airborne version of the strain may easily spread among humans. (Jan 21)
By IBTimes UK
Hong Kong authorities ban import of poultry from neighbouring areas including Shenzhen and declare "import control zone". (Jan 03)
By IBTimes AU
As cases of the avian flu virus seems to worsen in southern China bordering Hong Kong, citizens and visitors are again urged to take precautionary measures against the spread of the disease. (Jan 01)
MORE TOPICS: CHINA, THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEW YORK, INFECTION, BIRD FLU, H5N1
By India Blooms News Service
The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nation's (UN) healthy agency, has voiced concerns that scientific research on a strain of highly pathogenic influenza could have negative consequences. (Dec 31)
MORE TOPICS: UNITED NATIONS, BIRD FLU, UNITED NATIONS, INFECTION, H5N1
By IBTimes UK
Hong Kong is on high alert after workers began to slaughter 17,000 chickens on Wednesday after a chicken carcass was found infected with bird flu. (Dec 21)
MORE TOPICS: BIRD FLU
By IBTimes UK
A Dutch laboratory who developed a strain of bird flu which has the potential to kill millions want to publish its research, sparking fears the information could be used by terrorists. (Dec 20)
By IBTimes
Two surveys released Wednesday concludes that poultry workers in China still need H5N1 avian flu education and that people in China have changed their eating habits in response to bird flu. (Dec 08)
By IBTimes
According to a new research paper published in the November Journal of Virology, vaccinating children annually against influenza virus could interfere with their development of cross-reactive killer T cells to flu viruses. (Nov 17)
MORE TOPICS: INFECTION, INFLUENZA A VIRUS, H5N1
By My Green Australia
Global meat production and consumption have increased rapidly in recent decades, with harmful effects on the environment and public health as well as on the economy, according to research done by Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet project for Vital Signs Online. (Nov 06)
MORE TOPICS: UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, ANTIBIOTIC, SWINE INFLUENZA, H5N1, CANCER
By IBTimes AU
It is a common knowledge that mammals are the only animal types that can produce milk for their babies. However, research shows that even birds like pigeons and flamingos can also feed their chicks with their own milk. (Sep 21)
