Bird flu in Alaska

Latest reports about bird flu in Alaska

United States carrying out bird flu tests in Alaska

Sunday, July 2nd, 2006

Although no bird flu cases have yet been discovered in North America, U.S. authorities are keen to prevent a possible spread of the disease from Asia and have started testing wild birds in Alaska for a possible infection. Alaska is a meeting place for waterfowl, as wild birds from both Asia and America choose it as a feeding and nesting place during the summer months. Experts fear this could prove an easy opportunity for the deadly bird flu virus to enter America.

The project includes testing of more than 15,000 birds from 27 species in the region this summer alone and benefits from government sponsoring. Biologists camped in Alaska for this program say such measures could prove very effective as part of the nationwide program designed to identify early on a possible source of the virus in the country. And while some say the threat of the disease has been largely overstated, U.S. officials are not leaving any rock unturned.

Posted in Alaska