Characteristics of stork feces-derived H5N1 viruses that are preferentially transmitted to primary human airway epithelial cells.

Avian influenza viruses are a possible threat to human health as they may cause an influenza pandemic. Asian open-bill storks are migratory birds that brought H5N1 viruses into Thailand during the 2004-2005 epidemic. However, to date, there are no reports of direct transmission of stork-derived H5N1 viruses to Thais.