US Birds Could Soon Have Bird Flu, Michael Chertoff Says

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 10 Mar 2006 - 16:00 PDT

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According to Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security Secretary, the deadly H5N1 Bird Flu virus strain could hit the USA during the next few months as birds start migrating.

Birds migrate northwards (from countries that have warm winters) during the Spring. Experts say migrating birds carrying the H5N1 virus will make their way from West Africa to the Arctic and Alaska. Some of them will later on move southwards down the American continent. This should happen within the next six to twelve months.

Chertoff says there will be a reasonable possibility of a domestic fowl outbreak within the next few months as migrating birds mix with ducks, chickens and other birds in the US.

Chertoff added that the United States Agriculture Dept has experience in tackling bird flu infection outbreaks (other than the H5N1).

So far, North and South America, Australasia and Antarctica are the only continents without reported cases of sick birds infected with H5N1.

Some ornithologists wrote in to Medical News today explaining that North America could be hit from two fronts. Migrating birds from West Africa, to the Arctic, Alaska and then southwards into the American continent. Or into Alaska from Asia, and then down. Either way, the migrating birds would be coming from areas in the world where H5N1 is present.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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