bird flu
noun
: avian influenza
specifically
: severe often fatal influenza A caused by strains of a subtype (H5N1) of the causative orthomyxovirus that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections
Examples of bird flu in a Sentence
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His reign of error is just beginning, with thousands likely to die this fall because the administration has dramatically limited access to Covid boosters, interfered with the once-routine rollout of annual flu shots, and halted work on a bird flu vaccine.
—
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
As of July 7, the CDC will combine its bird flu updates with its routine influenza updates, according to a news release on its website.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
In the first few months of the year, more than 30 million egg-laying hens were killed to prevent the spread of the bird flu, leading to the skyrocketing costs of eggs.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025
The stage for this uptick was set when the current bird flu outbreak began in the U.S. in 2022 and the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, killed off egg-laying poultry en masse, leaving fewer chickens behind to maintain the supply.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bird flu
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David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
As of July 7, the CDC will combine its bird flu updates with its routine influenza updates, according to a news release on its website.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
In the first few months of the year, more than 30 million egg-laying hens were killed to prevent the spread of the bird flu, leading to the skyrocketing costs of eggs.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025
The stage for this uptick was set when the current bird flu outbreak began in the U.S. in 2022 and the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, killed off egg-laying poultry en masse, leaving fewer chickens behind to maintain the supply.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 July 2025
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 30 Jul. 2025.
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 that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections
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