New analytical method offers potential for faster risk assessment of avian influenza viruses

Highly pathogenic avian influenza causes significant damage to the poultry industry worldwide. As the virus evolves, new variants regularly emerge that may differ in how easily they spread and how severely they affect infected birds. Researchers at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR, part of Wageningen University & Research) characterized eight avian influenza virus variants in chicken and duck cells. Using mathematical modeling, they identified differences in how these viruses behave in poultry cells. Their paper is published in Microbiology Spectrum.