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USDA: Bird Flu in Michigan...But Don't Worry About It
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ShareAugust 15, 2006 10:10 AM
Routine tests have found two swans in Michigan infected with bird flu, but health officials say they have ruled out the deadly strain that has killed 139 people since 2003, according to the World Health Organization.
Ron DeHaven, administrator of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said "two wild mute swans" tested positive for strains of avian influenza at a wild game preserve in southeastern Michigan. Further tests are required to determine what risk this infection might pose to other birds, but officials have already ruled out the highly pathogenic bird flu that can sicken humans.
"This is not the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus," DeHaven said. "We do not believe that this virus represents a threat to human health."
DeHaven said the swans, two out of 20 tested at the preserve, showed no sign of sickness. "Low-pathogenicity avian influenza" often shows no symptoms. According to USDA, it has been detected in wild birds twice before in the United States in 1975 and 1986.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is still busy testing thousands of migratory birds for the H5N1 virus in the hopes of catching any early warning signs of avian flu in Alaska, before the fall migration could send infected birds back to the lower 48 states.
August 15, 2006 in Avian Flu | Permalink | User Comments (5)
Not long ago there was a movie on TV . . to do with the Bird Flu Epidemic. It wasn't so far stretched if one has an open mind about the world and life. Unfortunate as it is this Bird Flu could spread just as AIDS did in a sense of speaking. AIDS was not talked about. It was hushed everywhere. Like hushing it would make it go away, help find a cure, or not infect anyone else. Ironicly, the bird flu is being hushed, brushed off as nothing, and simply put I'm betting it won't go away only get worse.
Posted by: Chippy | Aug 16, 2006 10:40:25 AM
The flying public and aviation personnel are understandly more on edge and vigilant post 9/11...There should be little tolerance for anyone willingly or unwillingly that does not comply with direction given by flight attendants...this has nothing to do with paranoia...it's the right thing to do.
Posted by: Paul | Aug 16, 2006 1:45:58 PM
Oh good...Not to worry.
I'll never eat swan again, unless it's well done.
Posted by: KeyKots | Aug 17, 2006 5:10:00 PM
Bird flu is an overblown and relatively nonexistant problem in the world today, publicized mainly by people who seek to benefit from a massive epidemic. Think about it: did we hear about it before there was a bona fide vaccine for it? Then we were told that the "vaccine supplies are low!" Right there I can smell that the vaccine-maker wants the virus to hit and wants to charge top-dollar for the vaccine because of high demand. Media reports of "75% mortality rate" and other misinformation have only heightened a public panic. Remember, not everyone that had bird flu has been diagnosed with bird flu; it is entirely possible that someone had it but, thinking it was "normal" flu, simply rested and overcame. Also, the confirmed deaths include people who have all been in close proximity with birds and bird feces in Southeast Asia. There is a strain that has been transmuted to humans, but it is extremely hard to transmit between two humans. These stories are simply sensationalism that appeal to public fear. My unrequested advice: the threat is nearly nonexistant.
Posted by: Andrew E | Aug 18, 2006 4:59:59 PM
bird flu has been arund for hundreds of years
Posted by: hamza | Aug 26, 2006 10:54:52 PM
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