A range of viruses, parasites, and bacteria naturally reside in wild bird populations. Most forms of avian influenza or “bird flu” are not harmful to birds or people. The highly pathogenic (HPAI) H5N1 strain of bird flu causing worldwide concern is an exception.
West Nile virus (WNV) is carried by mosquitoes and can infect humans, horses, and birds. Humans can only get the virus from the bite of an infected mosquito; the disease does not spread from other animals to humans, or from person to person. More...
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