AI detected in healthy Northern pintails, Ohio
Tests have resulted in an indication of the presence of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus in Northern pintails, which pose no threat to human health. Tests confirm that these wild birds do not contain the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain.
The USDA and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are working with states to test samples of wildlife birds for the HPAI strain, throughout the US, with the intent of finding additional cases of common strains of avian influenza (bird flu) .
As part of a wild bird monitoring programme, the USDA and the Ohio Division of Wildlife collected 35 bird samples on 8 October, to be tested for H5 at the Ohio Dept of Agriculture Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Two of these samples were sent to the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), Iowa, where tests confirmed that one was tested positive for both H5 and N1 subtypes. This does not conclude that the birds are infected with the H5N1 strain, but rather indicates that there could be two separate viruses, each containing either H5 or N1.
Results are expected within three weeks to clarify whether one or more strains are present, the particular subtype as well as to confirm the pathogenicity.
As part of a wild bird monitoring programme, the USDA and the Ohio Division of Wildlife collected 35 bird samples on 8 October, to be tested for H5 at the Ohio Dept of Agriculture Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Two of these samples were sent to the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), Iowa, where tests confirmed that one was tested positive for both H5 and N1 subtypes. This does not conclude that the birds are infected with the H5N1 strain, but rather indicates that there could be two separate viruses, each containing either H5 or N1.
Results are expected within three weeks to clarify whether one or more strains are present, the particular subtype as well as to confirm the pathogenicity.
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