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

To date, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission associated with the current avian influenza situation in the United States, though a Louisiana patient reported to have underlying medical conditions died of the disease in January according to the Louisiana Department of Public Health. —Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

What Trump did: A USDA bird flu response plan, updated in May 2017, incorporated policy guidance based on lessons from avian influenza outbreaks during the Obama administration. —Amy Sherman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Of the more than 27,000 guano samples analyzed, just over 1% tested positive for avian influenza RNA. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

As such, seasonal flu vaccines are not designed to protect against avian influenza. —Hanna D. Paton, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for avian influenza

• parainfluenza
• cadenza

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