Biological science aid, Marlee Malmborg, examines and records the viability of pallid sturgeon eggs at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
How do scientists know if individual wild birds are infected with avian influenza?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture implements a plan every year to monitor wild birds for highly pathogenic avian influenza. This national plan could not be implemented without the engagement of State partners, the National Flyway Council, the Department of the Interior, and other agencies. This coordinated effort is revised annually based on new science and data shared through the Interagency Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Surveillance in Wild Migratory Birds. Biological samples from hundreds of thousands of live-captured, apparently healthy wild birds; hunter-harvested birds; and dead wild birds contribute to these surveillance efforts.
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center is USDA’s primary partner for testing sick and dead migratory birds for avian influenza.
Learn more: USGS science on avian influenza
Related
Can people get avian influenza?
While rare, human infections with avian influenza viruses have occurred. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) consider the risk to the general public from infections to be low. There have been human cases associated with the dairy cattle and wild bird strains of HPAI. To date, most human cases have been associated with farm workers (poultry and dairy cattle operations) as well as people who have...
Can wild birds spread avian influenza to domestic poultry?
Wild birds can directly or indirectly spread avian influenza to domestic poultry. The indirect route is likely most common due to viral contamination of the farm environment (feed, equipment, boots, clothes). The U.S. Department of Agriculture has found that farm-to-farm movement is also a major route for avian influenza spread, noting that farm biosecurity is critical to reduce the risk of avian...
What are the different types of avian influenza? What do the numbers next to H and N mean?
Avian influenza (AI) type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus: Hemagglutinin (HA), of which there are 16 subtypes (H1-H16). Neuraminidase (NA), of which there are 9 subtypes (N1-N9). Many combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible, for example H5N1, H5N2, H7N2, and H7N8. AI viruses are also classified into two groups based on their ability to...
What is Avian Influenza?
Avian influenza (AI) is caused by influenza type A viruses that historically have spread between wild birds (waterfowl and shorebirds) with occasional outbreaks in poultry (chickens, turkeys). These viruses can change over time and there has been a fundamental change with AI viruses now causing illness and death in wild birds, wild mammals, poultry, dairy cattle, cats, and people. Learn more...
Are birds the only species that is susceptible to West Nile Virus infection?
West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in at least 48 species of mosquitoes, over 320 species of birds, at least 2 species of reptiles, and more than 25 mammalian species, including horses and humans. Birds are the natural host and reservoir of WNV. Although other animals are susceptible to WNV infection, only birds develop a high enough virus load to transmit the infection to an uninfected...
What is chronic wasting disease?
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal, neurological illness occurring in North American cervids (members of the deer family), including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. Since its discovery in 1967, CWD has spread geographically and increased in prevalence locally. CWD is contagious; it can be transmitted freely within and among cervid populations. No treatments or vaccines are...
What is White-nose Syndrome?
White-nose syndrome is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern to the central United States at an alarming rate. Since the winter of 2007-2008, millions of insect-eating bats in at least 40 states and eight Canadian provinces have died from this devastating disease. The disease is named for the white fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, that infects skin of...
Examining Pallid Sturgeon Eggs
Biological science aid, Marlee Malmborg, examines and records the viability of pallid sturgeon eggs at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model Web Application Virtual Tour
The Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model web application depicts the intricate connections between 16 layers of administrative, environmental, and economic data in an application that runs inside a web browser. To view and manipulate the full web application, please visit http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
The Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model web application depicts the intricate connections between 16 layers of administrative, environmental, and economic data in an application that runs inside a web browser. To view and manipulate the full web application, please visit http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
Visual History of Worldwide Avian Influenza Outbreaks
For more information on avian influenza, see http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
For more information on avian influenza, see http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
USGS Avian Flu Research
A biological technician of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center tests chicken eggs inoculated with a field sample from wild birds to detect the presence of avian influenza virus.
A biological technician of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center tests chicken eggs inoculated with a field sample from wild birds to detect the presence of avian influenza virus.
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Releasing Forster’s Tern Chicks after Sampling for Avian Flu
Scientists prepare to release Forster's Tern chicks following sampling for avian influenza study.
Scientists prepare to release Forster's Tern chicks following sampling for avian influenza study.
USGS Avian Flu Research
USGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
USGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
Related
Can people get avian influenza?
While rare, human infections with avian influenza viruses have occurred. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) consider the risk to the general public from infections to be low. There have been human cases associated with the dairy cattle and wild bird strains of HPAI. To date, most human cases have been associated with farm workers (poultry and dairy cattle operations) as well as people who have...
Can wild birds spread avian influenza to domestic poultry?
Wild birds can directly or indirectly spread avian influenza to domestic poultry. The indirect route is likely most common due to viral contamination of the farm environment (feed, equipment, boots, clothes). The U.S. Department of Agriculture has found that farm-to-farm movement is also a major route for avian influenza spread, noting that farm biosecurity is critical to reduce the risk of avian...
What are the different types of avian influenza? What do the numbers next to H and N mean?
Avian influenza (AI) type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus: Hemagglutinin (HA), of which there are 16 subtypes (H1-H16). Neuraminidase (NA), of which there are 9 subtypes (N1-N9). Many combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible, for example H5N1, H5N2, H7N2, and H7N8. AI viruses are also classified into two groups based on their ability to...
What is Avian Influenza?
Avian influenza (AI) is caused by influenza type A viruses that historically have spread between wild birds (waterfowl and shorebirds) with occasional outbreaks in poultry (chickens, turkeys). These viruses can change over time and there has been a fundamental change with AI viruses now causing illness and death in wild birds, wild mammals, poultry, dairy cattle, cats, and people. Learn more...
Are birds the only species that is susceptible to West Nile Virus infection?
West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in at least 48 species of mosquitoes, over 320 species of birds, at least 2 species of reptiles, and more than 25 mammalian species, including horses and humans. Birds are the natural host and reservoir of WNV. Although other animals are susceptible to WNV infection, only birds develop a high enough virus load to transmit the infection to an uninfected...
What is chronic wasting disease?
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal, neurological illness occurring in North American cervids (members of the deer family), including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. Since its discovery in 1967, CWD has spread geographically and increased in prevalence locally. CWD is contagious; it can be transmitted freely within and among cervid populations. No treatments or vaccines are...
What is White-nose Syndrome?
White-nose syndrome is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern to the central United States at an alarming rate. Since the winter of 2007-2008, millions of insect-eating bats in at least 40 states and eight Canadian provinces have died from this devastating disease. The disease is named for the white fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, that infects skin of...
Examining Pallid Sturgeon Eggs
Biological science aid, Marlee Malmborg, examines and records the viability of pallid sturgeon eggs at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Biological science aid, Marlee Malmborg, examines and records the viability of pallid sturgeon eggs at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model Web Application Virtual Tour
The Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model web application depicts the intricate connections between 16 layers of administrative, environmental, and economic data in an application that runs inside a web browser. To view and manipulate the full web application, please visit http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
The Avian Influenza Transmission Risk Model web application depicts the intricate connections between 16 layers of administrative, environmental, and economic data in an application that runs inside a web browser. To view and manipulate the full web application, please visit http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
Visual History of Worldwide Avian Influenza Outbreaks
For more information on avian influenza, see http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
For more information on avian influenza, see http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ai.
USGS Avian Flu Research
A biological technician of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center tests chicken eggs inoculated with a field sample from wild birds to detect the presence of avian influenza virus.
A biological technician of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center tests chicken eggs inoculated with a field sample from wild birds to detect the presence of avian influenza virus.
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Blue-winged teal in Texas. Inset shows avian influenza virus
Releasing Forster’s Tern Chicks after Sampling for Avian Flu
Scientists prepare to release Forster's Tern chicks following sampling for avian influenza study.
Scientists prepare to release Forster's Tern chicks following sampling for avian influenza study.
USGS Avian Flu Research
USGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
USGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
Updated Date: April 17, 2025