Mayo Clinic virologist offers perspective on avian influenza, bird flu, outbreak

Health officials around the globe, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, are monitoring the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. Also known as bird flu, the highly contagious viral disease typically spreads among birds, but can also infect livestock and, in rare cases, humans.
"Avian influenza is very common among migratory birds such as waterfowl," says Dr. Matthew Binnicker, director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. He adds that human infection is rare, occurring mainly through close contact with infected animals.Dr. Binnicker says that while the current risk to humans is low, it's crucial to take preventive measures and ensure diagnostic tools and treatments.
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