bird flu
noun
: avian influenza
specifically
: severe often fatal influenza A caused by strains of a subtype (H5N1) of the causative orthomyxovirus (Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae) that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections
Examples of bird flu in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Department of Agriculture and University of Delaware lab system regularly test flocks for bird flu, the announcement says.
—
Laura Fay, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The chickens in Duke County — which includes Martha’s Vineyard — showed clinical signs of the bird flu and tested positive for the disease.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Most recently, scientists have been monitoring the highly-pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 subtype, or bird flu.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Food production methods have made bird flu more of a risk.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bird flu
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Laura Fay, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The chickens in Duke County — which includes Martha’s Vineyard — showed clinical signs of the bird flu and tested positive for the disease.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Most recently, scientists have been monitoring the highly-pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 subtype, or bird flu.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Food production methods have made bird flu more of a risk.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bird flu
Cite this Entry
“Bird flu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%20flu. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
bird flu
noun
: avian influenza
specifically
: severe often fatal influenza A caused by strains of a subtype (H5N1) of the causative orthomyxovirus (Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae) that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections
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