What is being done to monitor the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu in North America ?
Because some waterfowl and shorebird species migrate between Alaska and Asia and across the Atlantic from Europe, authorities in the wildlife conservation, hunting and medical professions are taking steps to monitor the situation closely and take action if necessary. The probability of the arrival of high pathogenic Asian H5N1 avian flu in North American waterfowl cannot be predicted. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center and others are diligently monitoring migratory birds in all 50 states, and a similar program is underway in Canada. Tens of thousands of waterfowl and shorebird samples have been collected, and the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 virus has not been found. You can check on the latest information about wild bird sampling for early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S. at http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/ai/ In the United States, the federal government has established a Web site at www.pandemicflu.gov. M
