Dual Use Research of Concern:

Why are highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses considered a select agent?

Select agents are biological agents and toxins that have been determined to have the potential to pose a severe threat to human or animal health, to plant health, or to animal and plant products. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses are “agricultural select agents” because of the danger they pose to animal health, for example, U.S. poultry. HPAI viruses are not considered select agents because of the danger they pose to human health. Although human infections with certain HPAI viruses, such as Asian A(H5Nx) and A(H7Nx), can lead to severe illness and death, human infections with these viruses are generally rare, and HPAI viruses currently do not spread easily from birds to humans or between humans.