bird flu
noun
: avian influenza
specifically
: severe often fatal influenza A caused by strains of a subtype (H5N1) of the causative orthomyxovirus that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections
Examples of bird flu in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even more gruesome are the methods used in the U.S. to kill millions of chickens and turkeys when bird flu is detected on a factory farm.
—
Peter Singer, TIME, 26 Oct. 2024
Climate & Environment How did H5N1 bird flu get introduced to California’s dairy industry?
Oct. 22, 2024
Jannell Goodwin, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said no product has yet been determined to be the source of the outbreak.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
The bird flu outbreak in dairy cows has infected 333 herds across 14 states so far.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024
New initiative launched by WHO to develop mRNA bird flu vaccines
Timeline of the bird flu outbreak
The outbreak began in early March when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a bird flu strain that had sickened millions of birds across the U.S was identified in several mammals this year.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bird flu 
Peter Singer, TIME, 26 Oct. 2024
Climate & Environment How did H5N1 bird flu get introduced to California’s dairy industry?
Oct. 22, 2024
Jannell Goodwin, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said no product has yet been determined to be the source of the outbreak.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
The bird flu outbreak in dairy cows has infected 333 herds across 14 states so far.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024
New initiative launched by WHO to develop mRNA bird flu vaccines
Timeline of the bird flu outbreak
The outbreak began in early March when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a bird flu strain that had sickened millions of birds across the U.S was identified in several mammals this year.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bird flu
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Cite this Entry
“Bird flu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%20flu. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
bird flu
noun
: avian influenza
specifically
: severe often fatal influenza A caused by strains of a subtype (H5N1) of the causative orthomyxovirus that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections
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