What is avian influenza?

Avian influenza is a disease of birds (mostly commercial chickens and turkeys) which is caused by a virus. It has received a lot of attention in recent years because one particular strain of the virus (the H5N1 strain, which some people refer to as ‘bird flu’) has spread widely through Asia and in some other countries, where it has also been seen to cause serious disease, and some deaths, in a relatively small number of humans who have had direct contact with sick or dead birds which have been infected with this particular virus. At the time this book is written, Australia is free from avian influenza. However, this has not always been the case, and Australia has had five outbreaks of avian influenza (of a different strain to the H5N1 type) in commercial chicken flocks over the past 50 years. On every occasion, Australia has been well prepared to quickly spot the infection and to take action to get rid of it. On each occasion, the outbreak has immediately been controlled and eradicated. Should the H5N1 strain ever get into Australia’s poultry flock, it would be expected to be equally quickly identified and eradicated.

What is avian influenza A (H5N1)?

This is the designation of the virus that is currently active in South-East Asia.  This particular strain is highly lethal to poultry.

The WHO has identified the main risk of transmitting the highly virulent H5N1 strain of AI as the movement of live birds through local markets, where vendors bring large numbers of birds for breeding or eating.  The virus can survive in faeces, on feathers, eggs or meat.

For more information see the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.