Bird flu in Nebraska

Latest reports about bird flu in Nebraska

Nebraska testing fowl for bird flu

Friday, July 21st, 2006

Biologists from Nebraska’s Game and Parks are starting to test the state’s fowl for the deadly bird flu disease, in an action which is part of a national program seeking to learn if there is any danger of the virus spreading to North America. Nets are being set up to trap migratory birds, with samples from birds such as killdeer being collected and then sent to a laboratory in Lincoln. Birds breeding in Siberia during the winter time follow a migratory path through the American state and are of particular interest to scientists.

The greatest concern that experts have is that a new flu strain might develop to be easily passed from human to human, thus leading to a world pandemic. The federal government is providing the funds for live testing in every state during this summer and fall, and the fund allocation for Nebraska alone reaches 100,000 dollars. The high amount is due to the fact that this state is in the main flyway of most migratory fowl. 1,000 different birds will be tested in the state over the next months, including ducks, geese, Sandhill Cranes and smaller shore birds.

Posted in Nebraska