European Commission Advice On Avian Flu

Avian Influenza (AI) or "Bird Flu" is a highly contagious viral infection which can affect all species of birds and can manifest itself in different ways depending mainly on the ability of the virus involved to cause disease (pathogenicity) and on the species affected.

Influenza infections in birds are divided in two groups on the basis of their pathogenicity:

-- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): spreads rapidly causing serious disease with high mortality (up to 100% within 48 hours)
-- Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI): causing generally a mild disease, may easily go undetected

The two types of pathogenicity result in very different forms of disease, and should not be confused. The H5N1 strain of the virus currently causing concern in European Member States is a highly pathogenic form of avian influenza.

Disease notification of all cases of low and high pathogenic avian influenza must be reported by the Member States to the European Commission and to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

-- Ten Key Facts About Avian Influenza (PDF)

-- More details on avian influenza

-- International conference on Vaccination against Avian Influenza 20-22 March, Verona, Italy

-- Factsheet on Avian Influenza - October 2006 (PDF)

-- Latest News - Press Releases

-- VNR - EU prevention bears fruit - 15 Mb wmv - rm : a video report on the risk of wild birds bringing with them highly infectious viruses such as H5N1, come into contact with domestic poultry, and the devastating effects avian influenza can have on poultry farms and all the economy linked to this activity.

European Commission