Is Influenza A The Bird Flu. Some strains cause no or mild disease in wild birds while others can cause severe disease in poultry,. Avian influenza, commonly called “bird flu,” is a viral infection that usually spreads in birds but can sometimes spread to humans.
Causes avian influenza a viruses have been isolated. H5n1 is one of several influenza viruses that causes a highly infectious respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza (or bird flu).