Montana birds confirmed as carriers of low pathogenic virus
October 9th, 2006
A final batch of tests was conducted to confirm the discovery of low pathogenic avian influenza virus on a flock of wild ducks in Montana. The tests confirmed that the H5N3 bird flu virus was found in two of the 16 birds from which samples were taken in Cascade County, Montana. Although the initial testing had revealed H5 and N1 subtypes, health authorities now declare that rapid screening tests are not accurate enough to correctly identify a specific strain of the virus. This year low pathogenic bird flu virus infections have been found in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Maryland.