Which species are considered reservoirs for avian influenza?

Waterfowl and shorebirds are considered significant reservoirs for avian influenza. These bird species often carry the virus without showing symptoms, allowing them to harbor the virus in large populations. Wild waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, are known to frequently migrate and can spread the virus across vast distances. This makes them integral to the ecology of avian influenza, as they can introduce the virus into new environments and into populations of domestic birds and other wildlife. Their ability to asymptomatically carry the virus contributes to the challenges of monitoring and controlling avian influenza outbreaks in poultry and preventing potential spillover into humans. The nature of their migratory patterns and interactions with domestic birds further facilitates the risk of virus transmission.