Avian flu or “bird flu” is flu infection in birds. Although avian flu viruses do not usually infect people, in some instances, these viruses have caused illness in people who have had direct contact with infected birds. To date, no one in Boston has been diagnosed with avian flu.
There are many different types of avian flu. Of particular concern now is the H5N1 avian flu, which was first reported in 1997, but has not caused much illness in humans until recently. The Boston Public Health Commission closely monitors all cases of flu including any person suspected of having avian flu.
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