Here’s what officials know about the ongoing US bird flu outbreak [Video]

Outbreaks of avian influenza on poultry and dairy farms have made headlines in the last two weeks. Most recently, infections were discovered in chicken flocks in Texas and Michigan, and one person was diagnosed with avian influenza in Texas after coming into contact with suspected infected cows.

This is what U.S. agencies know about the outbreak.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A

Avian influenza A, also known as bird flu or H5N1, is a viral influenza that primarily affects wild and domestic birds. A strain is considered either high pathogenicity, which can spread through entire flocks within days and generally shows obvious symptoms; or low pathogenicity, which generally brings few or no signs of illness and is frequently naturally found in wild birds.

In symptomatic highly pathogenic cases, birds may produce misshapen eggs, show swelling or discoloration on combs and wattles, may cough or sneeze or have trouble breathing, and may stumble or fall.

The virus spreads through direct contact between birds, and via contamination of surfaces …