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

Recent Examples of avian influenza from the Web

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.

First Known Use of avian influenza

1965

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

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

— called also fowl pest, fowl plague; see bird flu