Definition: The definition of virulence in bird flu, or avian flu, means how effective the bird flu virus is at infecting and killing the target organism, whether human or animal.
In laboratories, bird flu virulence is tested by injecting the bird flu strain studied into bird chicks. The percentage of chicks that die indicate whether or not the bird flu strain is highly virulent (HPAI) or a lowly virulent strain (LPAI).
Pronunciation: Sources
- MedicineNet.com, See link, Definition of Virulence
Also Known As: Highly virulent bird flu is also called Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and less virulent bird flu is Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI). See the Definition of HPAI and LPAI Bird Flu.
Examples: The highly virulent H5N1 bird flu strain generally kills 100 per cent of domestic poultry within 24 hours of infection with the virus. The virulence of the H5N1 avian flu virus varies and there are both highly virulent and less virulent strains of the virus.