Avian influenza viruses (also known as avian flu and bird flu) are influenza A viruses that are generally found in the intestines of wild birds.

Migratory wild birds, asymptomatic carriers of the virus, can infect domestic birds such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Infection makes the domestic birds sick, and most die.

Humans acquire avian influenza viruses primarily through direct contact of the mucous membranes with infectious secretions and excreta from infected birds or contaminated poultry products. The major portal of entry appears to be the upper respiratory tract. Although human-to-human transmission has been suggested in several household clusters, so far, there has been no sustained human-to-human transmission. Much remains to be learned about the exact mode of transmission. Most human illness from avian influenza has resulted from infection with Asian lineage H7N9 and H5N1 viruses, although there have been rare reports of human illness from H10N3 and H3N8 strains.

Per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since December 2021, 11 human cases of H5N1 infection have been reported globally; all cases had exposure to poultry. The World Health Organization reports that as of May 2023, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela have detected outbreaks of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in domestic birds, farm poultry and/or wild birds, and in mammals, with red foxes and skunks most frequently affected in North America and fur seals in South America. Per May 2023 and since the introduction of H5N1 in the Americas in 2014, 3 human infections have been reported: the United States (April 2022), Ecuador (January 2023), and Chile (March 2023). Continued sporadic human infections are anticipated.

The incubation period is generally between 2-5 days, but an upper limit of 8 days is possible. Most patients have headache, malaise, high fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, and myalgia. Conjunctivitis, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, pleuritic pain, and bleeding from the nose have also been reported. Respiratory distress, tachypnea, and inspiratory crackles are present on physical examination. Lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia are commonly present. The frequency of milder illnesses, subclinical infections, and atypical presentations such as encephalopathy is not known. Pregnant individuals are at increased risk for severe illness from influenza.

Atypical presentations of avian influenza have been reported. Patients have developed nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea preceding acute respiratory failure. Progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure is common. Complications have included bacterial sepsis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and multi-organ failure. The mortality rate of hospitalized patients has been high due to progressive respiratory failure.