Wild Birds Tested for AI in Alaska

September 1, 2006 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced on Tuesday that their departments and the state of Alaska have tested more than 13,000 wild migratory birds for highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) H5N1 in Alaska. There was no detection of this virus in any of the Alaskan samples.

"Close collaboration with our federal, state and local partners is essential to the success of our national wild bird monitoring strategy," said Johanns. "This plan is one of many tools we use to control the spread of highly pathogenic forms of the avian influenza virus."

As part of the national wild bird surveillance and early detection plan, this sampling program includes a goal to sample and test 75,000 to 100,000 migratory birds across the United States this year.

<< Back