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Review
. 2008 Aug;27(2):459-66.

Climate change and avian influenza

M Gilbert  1 , J Slingenbergh, X Xiao
Affiliations
Review

Climate change and avian influenza

M Gilbert et al. Rev Sci Tech. 2008 Aug.

Abstract

This paper discusses impacts of climate change on the ecology of avian influenza viruses (AI viruses), which presumably co-evolved with migratory water birds, with virus also persisting outside the host in subarctic water bodies. Climate change would almost certainly alter bird migration, influence the AI virus transmission cycle and directly affect virus survival outside the host. The joint, net effects of these changes are rather unpredictable, but it is likely that AI virus circulation in water bird populations will continue with endless adaptation and evolution. In domestic poultry, too little is known about the direct effect of environmental factors on highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission and persistence to allow inference about the possible effect of climate change. However, possible indirect links through changes in the distribution of duck-crop farming are discussed.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Distribution of Anatidae breeding and wintering areas
Source: Adapted from del Hoyo, Elliott and Sargatal (9)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The avian influenza virus (AIV) flow in a coupled natural and human system
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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