avian influenza

American  

[ey-vee-uhn in-floo-en-zuh] / ˈeɪ vi ən ˌɪn fluˈɛn zə /

Also avian flu

noun

Pathology

1. a form of influenza that afflicts poultry and other birds, and that is transmissible to humans.

   An earlier outbreak of avian influenza had been reported in the Northeast last month.

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Etymology

Origin of avian influenza

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

What has helped is that the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, has faded.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

During the avian influenza outbreak last year, Cal-Maine’s biosecurity investment helped it avoid the severe flock losses that crippled many competitors.

From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026

Epidemiologists and virologists worry that avian influenza could generate a pandemic if allowed to spread and mutate.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

Professor Brown told the BBC that the current virus was "as super-infectious as any high pathogenicity avian influenza we've ever seen".

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

Over time mutation lets animal diseases jump to people: avian influenza becomes human influenza, bovine rinderpest becomes human measles, horsepox becomes human smallpox.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann