What kind of virus is it?
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Avian flu is classified as H5N1, as well as a very pathogenic virus. Being pathogenic has to do with the virus's ability to make disease, causing serious outbreaks in parts of Asia and the Middle East.
WHAT KIND OF GENETIC MATERIAL DOES IT HAVE?
Bird flu's genetic material is RNA (ribonucleic acid), which is vital for living beings. Avian flu is cause by influenza A virus, which has 8 RNA segments.
How does it work?
Birds carry every known subtype of influenza A. When scientists talk about avian flu, however, they usually mean types that exist mostly or entirely in birds -- not in people. Most of the time, birds can't transmit the flu directly to people. They first infect pigs and other animals that can contract both human and avian flu strains. When the strains come into contact with one another, they create a new strain that infects humans.