Fact checking highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

This blog post was originally published to Cultivating Science on science.gc.ca.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, is a highly contagious viral infection that affects many mammals but primarily impacts wild and domesticated birds, including farmed birds. Managing highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in animal populations is essential for public health, the poultry industry, and the Canadian economy, especially since wild birds can carry and spread the virus without showing symptoms.

Recently, misinformation and disinformation about HPAI has downplayed the seriousness of this disease and created confusion about how it is spread, detected, controlled, and prevented. The consequences and severity of HPAI are well-known to Canada's poultry farmers and processors, veterinarians and animal health experts, but many Canadians have likely seen or heard false or conflicting information about the disease.

Continue reading to learn more.