What is avian influenza and why is it in the news?

Avian influenza is a viral disease that affects many species of birds. Carried naturally in a low pathogenic form—meaning birds might display low to no symptoms—among migratory waterfowl, the influenza can also mutate into a much more severe form, called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Highly pathogenic avian influenza can be deadly to many other species of birds including domestic poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, and raptors, such as owls, hawks, and eagles. When this severe influenza spreads to a chicken or turkey flock, it can cause mass mortality of birds as well as economic loss for producers. 

Read this fact sheet for more information on HPAI.