Avian Influenza Research Paper

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Avian Influenza What IS avian influenza (AI)? Similar answers, including the United States Department of Agriculture’s in 2015 are “a virus that infects wild birds (such as ducks, gulls, and shorebirds) and domestic poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese) (USDA, 2015). Also known as the bird flu around the world, the common classification labeled with this well-known virus is H5N1. In part, this is true; H5N1 is a strain of the bird flu, but not the only one. Avian influenza viruses are grouped by an arrangement of proteins. These two groups are hemagglutinin (or H proteins), and neuraminidase (or N proteins). Today, there are 18 known groups of H proteins, labeled H1-H18, and 11 known groups of N proteins, labeled N1-N9 (CDC A, 2015 and USDA, 2015). Aside from the H5N1 strain, other well-known strains include H7N3, H7N7, H7N9, and H9N2. After being classified as a strain, then this virus can be classified even further. There is a low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and a high pathogenic avian…show more content…
Making prolonged contact with infected birds has also shown to infect humans. Although rare, it is possible to contract AI from consuming undercooked or raw meat or poultry products and also by inhaling infected particles (for example, a butcher’s shop or processing plant) (OSHA, 2006). It is a common misconception that if a bird or its product has been infected with AI, that the meat or other products are no good. This is not the case; if handled and cooked properly, the virus will be eliminated by the proper temperature of 165oF or greater. Even so, if infected or poultry that could have the virus made its way into processing facilities, the USDA food inspection system would single it out to eliminate the source and any other products it may have had contact with (ARS,

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