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You may have heard a lot about avian flu, or bird flu, in the media. There are actually many kinds of flu that can infect birds and other animals. But recently, health officials have been especially concerned about one particular strain of bird flu. Known as H5N1, it can make people as well as birds and some animals severely ill.
The H5N1 flu virus is a bird disease that has spread to about 200 people worldwide. Health officials are concerned that it will become the next pandemic influenza strain in humans. However, it's very hard, and maybe even impossible, for people to get H5N1 bird flu from each other. You get it from direct contact with birds or their droppings. Find out if the virus is in your area and how to protect yourself from getting sick.
Pandemics have occured periodically throughout history. The avian H5N1 virus may be about to cause our next pandemic. Find out what you can do now to prepare for this or any other influenza pandemic.
A listing of press releases related to avian or pandemic influenza in Minnesota, as well as links to the latest worldwide case counts.
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