10/05/06 Bird flu briefing

Washington Ag October 5, 2006 Over four dozen people attended a briefing in Tacoma this week on avian influenza put on by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the USDA. Participants heard from state and federal authorities that testing of migratory birds in the state has turned up some bird flu but not the serious H5N1 virus. The state has been sampling eggs and poultry meat and testing birds at fairs and live bird markets as part of its surveillance program but officials said bird owners are the eyes and ears that can help officials with early detection, which along with a rapid response is the best defense against the highly pathogenic form of avian influenza. Meanwhile USDA has expanded its National Poultry Improvement Program to provide 100 percent indemnity to participating commercial poultry operations for costs associated with eradication of H5 and H7 low pathogenic influenza strains. Karen Eggert of USDA's APHIS explains why. Eggert: "While low path avian influenza doesn't pose any risk to human health this policy is meant to help eradicate H5 and H7 subtypes because they have the potential to mutate into the highly pathogenic avian influenza which has an extremely high mortality rate among birds." I'm Bob Hoff.