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Avian Flu Fact Sheet for the Public • Avian flu is an infection caused by bird flu viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. • Beginning in late 2003, infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) among poultry was reported by several countries in South-East Asia: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand and Viet Nam. Outbreaks in Malaysia were reported in 2004, followed by reports in Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkey, and Romania in 2005. The disease spread into areas of Europe and Africa in early 2006. • Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but more than 190 confirmed cases of human infection with the H5N1 bird flu virus have occurred since 2003,including 109 deaths. So far, there have been no avian or human cases in the United States associated with the current outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1).