A Geospatial Perspective Toward the Role of Wild Bird Migrations and Global Poultry Trade in the Spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1.

ABSTRACT: This study presents the interplay between wild bird migrations and global poultry trade in the unprecedented spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b strain, across the world and diverse ecosystems from 2020 to 2023. We theorized the role of migratory birds in spreading pathogens as various wild bird species traverse major flyways between the northern and southern hemispheres. Simultaneously, we analyzed the global poultry trade data to assess its role in H5N1's anthropogenic spread, highlighting how human economic activities intersect with natural avian behaviors in disease dynamics. Lastly, we conducted spatial hotspot analysis to identify areas of significant clustering of H5N1 outbreak points over different bird families from 2003 to 2023. This

SUBMITTER: Jindal M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11934220 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature