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Why is bird flu so bad right now?

The virus is running amok around the world. Possible explanations include an enhanced ability to replicate or infect more bird species.
  1. Saima May Sidik
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Avian influenza is on the rampage. In the past few days, both France and the United Kingdom have announced new biosafety measures aimed at curbing the swiftly spreading illness. Dozens of infected penguins in South Africa have died recently, and on Wednesday South Korea reported its first case in six months. In the United States, the disease is driving up prices for turkey a month before Thanksgiving, in which the bird plays a central part. The prevalence of the disease is the highest on record in Europe, and the number of domesticated birds that have died over the past year is approaching a record in the United States. So why is bird flu so bad right now?

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-03322-2

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