avian influenza

noun

Definition of avian influenza

: 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

Since the turn of the 21st century, more than a dozen global outbreaks have spread from animals to humans, including Ebola, SARS and avian influenza. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "A Never-Before-Seen Virus Has Been Detected in Myanmar’s Bats," 11 July 2018 Specifically, avian influenza viruses like H7N9 top pandemic threat lists, including the CDC’s Influenza Risk Assessment Tool. — Smithsonian, "The Pandemic Everyone Fears Is Flu In the Wrong Place At the Wrong Time," 30 Jan. 2018 Scientists from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are currently investigating the suspected case of H5N6 avian influenza, according to reports. — Erin Hill, PEOPLE.com, "The Queen's Swans May Have Been Killed by Bird Flu Outbreak at Harry and Meghan's Wedding Site," 5 Feb. 2018 Highly pathogenic avian influenza: Asia, Jan. 24, 2004, to Jan. 7, 2009. — Mark Johnson, jsonline.com, "The hunt for a future killer," 15 Dec. 2017 All told, these two avian influenza viruses had killed 1,032 out of the 2,439 people infected as of this past July—a staggering mortality rate. — John M. Barry, Smithsonian, "How the Horrific 1918 Flu Spread Across America," 25 Oct. 2017 Poultry farms are facing a severe glut that’s been crashing prices for eggs, the WSJ’s Jesse Newman and Jacob Bunge report, just two years after the worst bout of avian influenza in U.S. history devastated egg-laying flocks. — Paul Page, WSJ, "Today’s Top Supply Chain and Logistics News From WSJ," 31 July 2017 Prompted by the re-emergence of avian influenza, governments, NGOs and major businesses around the world have poured resources into preparing for a pandemic. — John M. Barry, Smithsonian, "How the Horrific 1918 Flu Spread Across America," 25 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'avian influenza.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about avian influenza

Dictionary Entries near avian influenza

avian pneumoencephalitis

Statistics for avian influenza

Last Updated

27 Jul 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for avian influenza

The first known use of avian influenza was in 1965

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for avian influenza

avian influenza

noun

variants: or avian flu

Medical Definition of avian influenza

: 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), 23 Mar. 2006 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, 14 Mar. 2004