Can migratory birds bring highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 to North America?

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Answer

Migratory birds usually travel thousands of miles over the same routes in their annual migrations. In the Northern Hemisphere, birds begin moving south during August and September of each year. North American migratory birds that spend the winter in Asia may come into contact with potentially infected domestic or wild birds during the winter months.

In spring, migratory birds will migrate north to their breeding grounds in eastern Russia, Alaska, and Canada. Migratory birds infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 returning from Asia could potentially interact with other North American wild birds as they commingle on the breeding grounds.

Bird migration is only one possible route of introduction of HPAI H5N1 into North America. Illegal smuggling of birds and poultry products, travel by infected people, or people traveling with virus-contaminated articles are more direct, and possibly more likely, means of introducing the new strain of HPAI H5N1 virus into the United States.

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• Are migratory birds carrying the virus from one country to another?
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Last Updated: 04/04/2007