Bird Flu Fact Sheet
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Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Workplace human infections with Avian Influenza viruses do occur and everyone with exposure to potentially infected animals needs to be aware of the exposure risks for contracting avian flu as well as worker protection options. Avian influenza is divided into two groups based upon the severity of the disease they produce: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses such as H5N1. LPAI generally cause minor illness, while HPAI viruses are highly contagious and cause high mortality in poultry. While there is currently no evidence of person to person spread, workers can be infected after unprotected exposure to animals infected with H5N1.
