avian influenza

noun

: highly variable influenza A of birds caused by any of the subtypes of the causative orthomyxovirus of which some strains have been or may be transmitted to other vertebrates including humans especially after undergoing mutation

called also avian flu

compare bird flu

Examples of avian influenza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An outbreak of avian influenza and the effects of the war in Ukraine on global commodity prices drove the increase. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 As with so many ecological disasters, the story of avian influenza highlights the consequences of human disruption of the natural world, scientists say. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 12 Feb. 2024 The avian influenza outbreak in the U.S. has resulted in the death of nearly 80 million birds since the start of 2022, according to the USDA. WSJ, 3 Jan. 2024 But this all depends on the trajectory of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the very contagious disease that caused egg (and chicken) prices to go up in the first place, says Anderson. Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2023 Climate & Environment California mountain lion population is thousands fewer than previously estimated Jan. 7, 2024 Until recently, highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, was considered strictly a poultry disease. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 In December, the farm was one of nine locations in Sonoma County infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as avian flu. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2024 There have been 23 official reports of avian influenza in wild birds in Arkansas so far in 2023, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS avian influenza tracker. Cristina Larue, arkansasonline.com, 16 Dec. 2023 Whenever the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is detected on a farm, the entire flock is killed as to keep it from spreading to other farms. Josh Funk, Fortune Well, 7 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'avian influenza.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of avian influenza was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near avian influenza

Cite this Entry

“Avian influenza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avian%20influenza. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

avian influenza

noun
variants or avian flu
: influenza of birds that is caused by any of several subtypes (such as H5N2 or H7N7) of an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A) of which some strains have been transmitted to other vertebrates including humans especially after undergoing mutation
Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions from infected birds.The Tennessee Tribune (Nashville)
And as you read this, millions of birds are being eliminated in Asia and elsewhere in an effort to contain avian flu.Barry Gewen, The New York Times Book Review

called also fowl pest, fowl plague

see bird flu

More from Merriam-Webster on avian influenza

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