Section 1. Avian Influenza Facts

An Introduction to Avian Influenza

By the end of this section you should

Understand the basics of the avian influenza virus,
Know virus subtypes and categories, and
Recognize clinical signs of the virus.

Special topics review the highly pathogenic subtype H5N1 and human concerns during an outbreak.

Avian influenza (AI) outbreaks occur sporadically throughout the world and are of great importance to animal and human health. This disease is very disruptive to the poultry industry, causing millions of chickens, turkeys, and other poultry to be destroyed to prevent further spread of the disease. There is a growing concern over the loss of human lives and management of potential pandemics of the highly pathogenic strains of the avian influenza virus.

In the following chapters you will learn more about avian influenza, prevention measures, response procedures, and recovery from an outbreak.

Photo Credit: Jenny Madsen