Do migratory waterfowl disperse the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu virus?
The available evidence supports the contention that migrating birds are responsible for part of the spread of the highly pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu. However, the illegal movement and trade of poultry has also been implicated in the dispersal of the virus and seen by most authorities as the most serious threat to spread the disease. Tens of thousands of wild birds have been sampled in North America, and officials haven’t found any infected with the highly pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu virus. While the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain kills some waterfowl species, most survive and may become carriers of the disease without showing any outward symptoms. Intensive monitoring of wild birds is continuing worldwide in order to follow the spread of the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Researchers continue to confirm the occurrence of HPAI H5N1 in wild birds in several countries of Asia and Europe.
