Bird Flu Watch: Michigan, USA
August 16, 2006 by Grace Ibay
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
The massive new program of the USA to test and monitor migratory birds flying through the country has resulted in identifying two mute wild swans carrying a low-pathogenic avian flu virus. In fact, two separate strains were detected in the birds – an H5 and an H1, but investigators say they don’t necessarily fit together to form the dreaded H5N1 subtype. These low pathogenic strains are common in wild birds and typically present as minor symptoms (on none at all) of the flu. Wild birds also are known to harbor many influenza viruses, so finding one of these strains is not unusual. In this case, the swans found in the Lake Erie, Michigan shores showed no signs of sickness at all.
Lab confirmations from the USDA’s National Veterinary Services laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa will come back in two weeks.
For more details, go to SeniorJournal.com.
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Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] A low pathogenic bird flu H7 strain was found at a large poultry farm in the Netherlands early August, and Dutch authorities quickly moved to prevent spread of the disease. Last week, two mute wild swans from the Lake Erie Michigan area were identified to carry two separate strains – an H5 and an H1, but investigators say they don’t necessarily fit together to form the dreaded H5N1 subtype. [...]