How can bird flu spread from wild birds to domestic poultry?

Wild birds, particularly waterfowl such as wild ducks, serve as the primary natural hosts for bird flu viruses. While these wild birds are typically resistant to the virus, they carry it in their intestines and shed it into the environment through their feces.21

Domestic poultry become infected when they come into contact with this contaminated environment. Once the virus enters a domestic flock, it spreads between birds through saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Within a region, the virus can further propagate between farms through several vectors, including:

• Airborne dust and soil contaminated with feces.
• Contaminated equipment, feed, and clothing.
• Wild animals that carry the virus on their bodies.21

On a broader scale, the disease is spread between regions through the movement of migratory birds and international trade in live poultry. Maintaining strict sanitary precautions and confinement rearing are essential practices in poultry farming to help control the spread of such diseases.21