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Experts fear Central Flyway infections increase bird flu risk in Texas
Infection surfaces on migratory path through central U.S. leading to Texas
By Markian Hawryluk | April 5, 2015 | Updated: April 5, 2015 8:39pm
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Texas poultry stocks probably are at increased risk for bird flu due to multiple cases of the infection along a common migratory pathway cutting through the center of the United States, experts said.
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"It does represent a higher risk for Texas," said Hon Ip, a U.S. Geological Survey virologist. "There have not been a large number of wild birds that tested positive in the Central Flyway, but that may just represent a low number of birds tested rather than the absence of the virus."
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Ip said previous avian flu outbreaks in the U.S. have occurred when a less pathogenic virus passed from wild birds to domestic flocks and then mutated into a more pathogenic strain. Those were isolated events that were detected quickly and controlled before they could spread.
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The strains isolated from the latest outbreaks contain a mix of genetic material from a highly pathogenic Eurasian strain of the virus and a less pathogenic North American strain. That created a strain that has produced disease quickly once introduced into domestic poultry flocks.
Texas experienced a large bird flu outbreak in 2004, but there were few subsequent transmissions in the U.S. until this year. Since December, the Agriculture Department has identified some two dozen infections in poultry and captive birds, mainly in the Pacific Northwest and Mississippi.
"What's different now is the virus is present in multiple wild bird species, potentially in multiple flyways," Ip said. "There is more opportunity for people tracking that virus into their facility."
Transmission to domestic poultry, he said, is probably occurring by indirect means rather than direct contact with wild birds.
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"H5N2 along with H5N8 and H5N1 viruses do pose a risk to poultry and the poultry industry in all states now," Dr. Nancy Cox, an influenza expert who recently retired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said via email. "Although there have not been any human cases caused by the introduction of these viruses into the U.S. by wild migratory birds, it is possible that there will be an isolated human case or two as time passes and more humans come in close contact with infected birds."
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Infection surfaces on migratory path through central U.S. leading to Texas
By Markian Hawryluk | April 5, 2015 | Updated: April 5, 2015 8:39pm
Comments 0 E-mail Print
Texas poultry stocks probably are at increased risk for bird flu due to multiple cases of the infection along a common migratory pathway cutting through the center of the United States, experts said.
...
"It does represent a higher risk for Texas," said Hon Ip, a U.S. Geological Survey virologist. "There have not been a large number of wild birds that tested positive in the Central Flyway, but that may just represent a low number of birds tested rather than the absence of the virus."
...
Ip said previous avian flu outbreaks in the U.S. have occurred when a less pathogenic virus passed from wild birds to domestic flocks and then mutated into a more pathogenic strain. Those were isolated events that were detected quickly and controlled before they could spread.
...
The strains isolated from the latest outbreaks contain a mix of genetic material from a highly pathogenic Eurasian strain of the virus and a less pathogenic North American strain. That created a strain that has produced disease quickly once introduced into domestic poultry flocks.
Texas experienced a large bird flu outbreak in 2004, but there were few subsequent transmissions in the U.S. until this year. Since December, the Agriculture Department has identified some two dozen infections in poultry and captive birds, mainly in the Pacific Northwest and Mississippi.
"What's different now is the virus is present in multiple wild bird species, potentially in multiple flyways," Ip said. "There is more opportunity for people tracking that virus into their facility."
Transmission to domestic poultry, he said, is probably occurring by indirect means rather than direct contact with wild birds.
...
"H5N2 along with H5N8 and H5N1 viruses do pose a risk to poultry and the poultry industry in all states now," Dr. Nancy Cox, an influenza expert who recently retired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said via email. "Although there have not been any human cases caused by the introduction of these viruses into the U.S. by wild migratory birds, it is possible that there will be an isolated human case or two as time passes and more humans come in close contact with infected birds."
...
