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 The agency says the immediate risk to the public from H5N1 bird flu continues to be low. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 27 Sep. 2024 Concern grows as bird flu outbreaks continue to rise among California dairy herds The number of dairy herds infected with H5N1 bird flu doubled over the weekend. Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024 The second health care worker will be offered a blood test to determine if there are antibodies for the bird flu virus. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 20 Sep. 2024 Over the last couple of years, the poultry industry — in its efforts to stamp out the spread of bird flu — has killed tens of millions of animals by closing vents and cranking up the heat so the birds slowly die by heatstroke, the most cost-effective, and cruelest, form of mass euthanasia. Kenny Torrella, Vox, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bird flu 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bird flu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bird flu was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near bird flu

Cite this Entry

“Bird flu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%20flu. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Medical 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

More from Merriam-Webster on bird flu

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