Avian Influenza (AI) or "Bird Flu" is a highly contagious viral infection which can affect all species of birds.

Influenza infections in birds are divided in two groups on the basis of their ability to cause disease:

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) causing serious disease with high mortality, and
• Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) causing in general a mild disease.

Free-living birds may carry influenza viruses without becoming ill due to a natural resistance. It is known that wild waterfowl present a natural reservoir for these viruses and can be responsible for the primary introduction of infection into domestic poultry.

LATEST NEWS :

• 31/03/04: Influenza and how the EU should respond to a pandemic
• see the press release

• 30/03/04: Restrictions lifted on poultry imports from the USA and Canada. Only Texas and a part of British Columbia still restricted
• see the press release

• Avian Influenza - Response to outbreaks in Asia and the US in 2004 - Chronology of main events and list of decisions adopted by the Commission (situation as of 31st March 2004)
• see latest press releases
• see recent outbreaks of H5 Avian Influenza in Asia map (as of 23rd March 2004)

• 11/03/04: Commission suspends EU poultry imports from Canada after avian influenza outbreak
• see the press release

• 03/02/04: Member States agree to prolong import embargo on poultry products
• see the press release
• see the new legislation

• 28/01/04: EU suspends imports of Pet Birds from South East Asia:
• see the press release
• see the new legislation

• 23/01/04: Commission suspends Thai poultry imports:
• see the press release
• see the new legislation

Visit the Public Health website for more information concerning the threat to health or direct to this page:

• "Links between humans and animal Influenza"

In recent years three different subtypes of avian influenza viruses (H5N1, H7N7 and H9N2) have been detected in humans causing disease of varying degrees of seriousness.