How is New Mexico preparing for bird flu and a potential pandemic?
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) are taking part in a number of prevention and preparedness activities, which include: • The NMDA Veterinary Diagnostic Services (VDS) and the Scientific Laboratory Division (SLD) of the NMDOH assist with routine surveillance for H5 and H7 viruses in New Mexico poultry and wild birds. • The New Mexico Livestock Board in coordination with USDA-Veterinary Services investigates disease outbreaks in domestic poultry throughout the state and sends samples to VDS for testing. • The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in coordination with USDA-Wildlife Services samples dead birds at hunter check stations and live birds at other locations around the state and sends diagnostic specimens to the VDS for avian flu testing. • Laboratory capacity to detect novel flu subtypes (including H5) among humans has been developed at SLD. • Health care providers thr
