Trinidad & Tobago, test neg for AI on Aug 16 samples

[MHSC]

Ministry rules out Avian InfluenzaSunday, October 29 2006
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> var curPic=0;var artPics = new Array(); artPics[0] = new Array(); artPics[0]['src'] = '/galeria/mini/2006-10-29-4-3a.jpg'; artPics[0]['link'] = 'http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,4610.html#foto'; artPics[0]['desc'] = 'SCHOLARSHIP SUCCESS: St Mary's College Additional National Scholarship winner, Rolando Moreau (right) receives his award from Vice-Principal Nigel Jos...'; function nextPic(id) { if ( curPic+id >= artPics.length ) { curPic=0; $('click').innerHTML=''; } else if (curPic+id < 0) { curPic=artPics.length; } else { curPic=curPic+id; } if (curPic!=0) $('click').innerHTML = '<small>click on pic to zoom in</small>'; imgid = $('div_art_foto'); descid = $('art_foto_desc'); linkid = $('art_foto_link'); if (curPic!=0) { imgid.innerHTML=''; } else { imgid.innerHTML=''; } if(artPics[curPic]['desc'].length>0) descid.innerHTML = '<small>'+artPics[curPic]['desc']+'</small>' else descid.innerHTML = ''; } </script>Tests conducted on samples from a farm in central Trinidad have ruled out the presence of Avian Influenza (AI).
On August 16 a sample was collected as part of the Ministry of Agriculture Poultry Surveillance Unit, routine surveillance for AI tested positive in screening tests.

?Samples were subsequently forwarded for confirmatory testing at the veterinary Laboratories Agency laboratory at Weybridge, England,? a release from the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday.

The lab is a reference lab for the World Organisation for Animal Health.

All samples tested negative for AI.

The Ministry said this suggested that the initial positive result was a ?false positive.? It said false positive results were not unusual for screening tests since they are very sensitive.

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