"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."
"Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds. Domesticated birds may become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with the virus."
"Infection with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry causes two main forms of disease that are distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and usually causes only mild symptoms (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). However, the highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. This form may cause disease that affects multiple internal organs and has a mortality rate that can reach 90-100% often within 48 hours."
This exhibit on avian flu explores resources on avian flu, epidemics, pandemics, vaccinations, and their impacts on human populations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006. Key Facts.
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Migratory Birds |
Swans |
Maps
- Bird Migration Routes in the East Asian/Australasian Flyway http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/vietnam/images/map2.gif
- Delmarva's Avian FLu Crisis. Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2004.
gttp://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-birdflugraphic0308,0,2874559.graphic?coll=bal-health-headlines - Documented Avian Influenza infections in humans. Europa. 5 May 2006.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/Influenza/images/influenza.jpg - Medical Ecology. H5N1 Outbreaks in 2005 and Major Flyways of Migratory Birds. 2006.
http://www.medicalecology.org/diseases/influenza/avianmap_sci_large.jpg - United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. 2005. H5N1 Outbreaks in 2005 and major flyways of migratory birds. http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/migrationmap.html 2 May 2006.
Bibliography:
Avian Flu Books with book Jackets

Beasts of the earth : animals, humans, and disease / E. Fuller Torrey, Robert H. Yolken.
New Brunswick, N.J. : Rutgers University Press, c2005.
RA639 T676 2005
The monster at our door : the global threat of avian flu / Mike Davis.
New York : New Press ; New York, 2005.
RA644 I6D387 2005
The return of epidemics : health and society in Peru during the twentieth century / Marcos Cueto.
Aldershot ; Burlington, VT : Ashgate, c2001.
RA650.55 P5C843 2001
Strengthening influenza pandemic preparedness through civil-military cooperation / edited by J. Neville and O.I. Kisilev.
Amsterdam ; Washington, DC : IOS Press, c2005.
RA648.6 N38 2003
Avian Flu Books without book Jackets
- Epidemics in the modern world / Joann P. Krieg.
New York : Twayne Publishers ; Toronto : Maxwell Macmillan Canada ; New York : Maxwell Macmillan International, c1992.
RA650.5 K75 1992 - Vaccine protocols / edited by Andrew Robinson, Michael J. Hudson, and Martin P. Cranage, 2nd ed.
Totowa, N.J. : Humana Press, c2003.
QR189 V2513 2003 - Vaccines / [edited by] Stanley A. Plotkin, Walter A. Orenstein ; with assistance of Paul A. Offit.
Philadelphia, Pa. : Saunders, c2004.
QR189 V268 2004
Articles
- Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. 2006. Avian Influenza: International Partnership To Meet a Global Threat http://www.state.gov/r/pa/scp/2006/64101.htm 3 May 2006
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006. Key Facts About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm 3 May 2006.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006. Questions and Answers About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm 3 May 2006.
- Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota. 2006. Study suggests why bird flu slow to infect humans http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/avianflu/news/mar2306receptors.html 3 May 2006.
- Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota. 2006. FDA approves using Relenza to prevent flu. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar2906relenza.html 3 May 2006.
- Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota. 2006. Avian flu hits another African nation. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/avianflu/news/apr0406birdi.html 3 May 2006.
- Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota. 2006. USDA: 165 degrees is magic number for safe poultry. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/fs/food-disease/news/april0506cook.html 3 May 2006.
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2006. Avian Influenza - Questions & Answers.
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/avian_qa.html 3 May 2006. - Medical Ecology. Avian Influenza Update Information. 2006. http://www.medicalecology.org/diseases/influenza/influenza_update.htm
- Normville, Dennis. Science. Evidence Points to Migratory Birds in H5N1 Spread. vol 311 (2006) 1225. http://www.medicalecology.org/pdf/avian_influenza/1225.pdf
- World Health Organization. 2006. Situation updates - Avian influenza.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/updates/en/index.html 3 May 2006.
This exhibit was created on May 1, 2006 and designed by Carla Reeske and Margaret Hogarth .
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