Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

[AlaskaDenise]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...IRDFLU-USA.XML

Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:04pm ET

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Northern pintail birds in Ohio have tested positive for a low-pathogenic strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the U.S. government said on Saturday, adding to recent cases in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Michigan.

A strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus was found in "apparently healthy" wild birds sampled Oct. 8 in Ottawa County, located on Lake Erie about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Toledo, the departments of Agriculture and Interior said.

"Initial tests confirm that these wild bird samples do not contain the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa," the USDA said in a statement.

The government said it was conducting additional tests to determine, in part, if the ducks had H5N1 or two separate strains with one virus contributing H5 and the other N1. A second round of tests could take up to 21 days to confirm whether it was the low-pathogenic H5N1 bird flu.

The virus also was found in Pennsylvania in September and in Michigan and Maryland in August.

The Agriculture and Interior departments are working with states to collect between 75,000 and 100,000 wild bird samples in addition to more than 50,000 environmental tests throughout the United States.

A low-pathogenic strain, which produces less disease and mortality in birds than does a high-pathogenic version, poses no threat to humans. It is common for mild and low pathogenic strains of bird flu to appear in the United States and other countries.

The latest H5N1 bird flu strain in Asia, Europe and Africa is known to have killed at least 141 people and forced hundreds of millions of birds to be destroyed.

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[HenryN]

Re: Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=612 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlack colSpan=4 height=12>Release No. 0415.06</TD></TR><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlack align=right colSpan=4 height=12>Contact:</TD></TR><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlack align=right colSpan=4 height=12>Angela Harless, USDA (202) 841-0832</TD></TR><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlack align=right colSpan=4 height=12>DOI Press Office (202) 208-6416</TD></TR><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlackBold align=middle colSpan=4 height=10> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlackBold vAlign=center align=middle colSpan=4 height=10>JOINT DOI AND USDA NEWS RELEASE: OHIO WILD BIRD SAMPLES UNDERGO ADDITIONAL AVIAN INFLUENZA TESTING </TD></TR><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlackBold align=middle colSpan=4 height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD class=BodyTextBlack colSpan=4 height=12>WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2006 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of the Interior (DOI) today announced a detection of H5 and N1 avian influenza subtypes in samples from apparently healthy wild Northern pintails in Ottawa County, Ohio, that were killed by a hunter. Initial tests confirm that these wild bird samples do not contain the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa. Initial test results indicate the presence of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus, which poses no threat to human health.
The bird samples were collected on Oct. 8 through a partnership between USDA and the Ohio Division of Wildlife as part of an expanded wild bird monitoring program. USDA and DOI are working collaboratively with states to sample wild birds throughout the U.S. for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). As a result of this expanded testing program, USDA and DOI expect to identify additional cases of common strains of avian influenza in birds, which is not cause for concern.
Thirty five samples were collected directly from the birds and screened for H5 at the Ohio Dept of Agriculture Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Of those samples, two were sent to USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, for confirmatory testing and one screened by NVSL tested positive for both H5 and N1 subtypes. This does not mean these birds are infected with an H5N1 strain. It is possible that there could be two separate avian influenza viruses, one containing H5 and the other containing N1.
Confirmatory testing underway at NVSL will clarify whether one or more strains of the virus are present, the specific subtype, as well as confirm the pathogenicity. These results are expected within two to three weeks and will be made public when completed.
Low pathogenic avian influenza commonly occurs in wild birds. It typically causes only minor sickness or no noticeable symptoms in birds. These strains of the virus include LPAI H5N1, commonly referred to as "North American" H5N1, which is very different from the more severe HPAI H5N1 circulating overseas.
There is no known health risk to hunters or hunting dogs from contact with low pathogenic forms of avian influenza virus. Nevertheless, hunters are always encouraged to use common sense sanitation practices, such as hand washing and thorough cooking, when handling or preparing wildlife of any kind. DOI has issued guidelines for safe handling and preparation of wild game.
For more information about USDA's efforts and research related to avian influenza, go to http://www.usda.gov/birdflu. For more information about Interior's efforts and hunter education program, go to http://www.doi.gov/issues/avianflu.html For information about the federal government's overall efforts related to avian influenza and human pandemic preparedness, go to http://www.avianflu.gov.
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http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p...06/10/0415.xml

[hawkeye]

Re: Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

About time they found it...all the other states around Ohio have it...time to keep an eye out for dead birds. (from avian botulism of course)

[HenryN]

Re: Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

About time they found it...all the other states around Ohio have it...time to keep an eye out for dead birds. (from avian botulism of course)

Yes, Lake Erie is surrounded by H5N1 positive states (Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) and of course Lake Erie has dead birds due to avian botulism.

[Jonesie]

Re: Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

About time they found it...all the other states around Ohio have it...time to keep an eye out for dead birds. (from avian botulism of course)

NO. No botulism in Ohio.
I'm pretty sure it will be death due to excessive and prolonged flying at too high an altitude. Birds sometimes circle Ohio for weeks in rarified air, trying to find the one pass through the high mountains surrounding Ohio. When the fog lifts, they finally make it in, but the cause of death will be found to be exhaustion, dehydration, and/or altitude sickness.

[hawkeye]

Re: Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

Yeah...you're probably right...silly birds.

NO. No botulism in Ohio.
I'm pretty sure it will be death due to excessive and prolonged flying at too high an altitude. Birds sometimes circle Ohio for weeks in rarified air, trying to find the one pass through the high mountains surrounding Ohio. When the fog lifts, they finally make it in, but the cause of death will be found to be exhaustion, dehydration, and/or altitude sickness.

[HenryN]

Re: Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10160602/H5N1_Ohio.html

[Mingus]

Re: Low-risk H5N1 bird flu in Ohio wild birds- USDA

<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2><CENTER>

http://www.ofbf.org/page/NWAN-6UMHE4/?OpenDocument

Bird flu strain found in Ottawa County

Published on 2006-10-16

</CENTER>
The Nothern Pintail is a common duck that breeds in parts of Europe, Asia, Canada, Alaska and the midwestern United States. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of the Interior (DOI) have announced a detection of H5 and N1 avian influenza subtypes in samples from apparently healthy wild Northern Pintails in Ottawa County, Ohio, that were killed by a hunter. Initial tests confirm that these wild bird samples do not contain the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa. Initial test results indicate the presence of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus, which poses no threat to human health.
The bird samples were collected on Oct. 8 through a partnership between USDA and the Ohio Division of Wildlife as part of an expanded wild bird monitoring program. USDA and DOI are working collaboratively with states to sample wild birds throughout the U.S. for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). As a result of this expanded testing program, USDA and DOI expect to identify additional cases of common strains of avian influenza in birds, which is not cause for concern.
Thirty five samples were collected directly from the birds and screened for H5 at the Ohio Dept of Agriculture Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Of those samples, two were sent to USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, for confirmatory testing and one screened by NVSL tested positive for both H5 and N1 subtypes. This does not mean these birds are infected with an H5N1 strain. It is possible that there could be two separate avian influenza viruses, one containing H5 and the other containing N1.

<!--</td></tr>--><!--<tr><td colspan="2" valign="top">-->Confirmatory testing underway at NVSL will clarify whether one or more strains of the virus are present, the specific subtype, as well as confirm the pathogenicity. These results are expected within two to three weeks and will be made public when completed.
Low pathogenic avian influenza commonly occurs in wild birds. It typically causes only minor sickness or no noticeable symptoms in birds. These strains of the virus include LPAI H5N1, commonly referred to as "North American" H5N1, which is very different from the more severe HPAI H5N1 circulating overseas.
There is no known health risk to hunters or hunting dogs from contact with low pathogenic forms of avian influenza virus. Nevertheless, hunters are always encouraged to use common sense sanitation practices, such as hand washing and thorough cooking, when handling or preparing wildlife of any kind. DOI has issued guidelines for safe handling and preparation of wild game.
For more information about USDA's efforts and research related to avian influenza, go to http://www.usda.gov/birdflu. For more information about Interior's efforts and hunter education program, go to http://www.doi.gov/issues/avianflu.html For information about the federal government's overall efforts related to avian influenza and human pandemic preparedness, go to http://www.avianflu.gov.
(Source: USDA)
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