Avian Bird Flu Hits Michigan
Terry Trippany on Aug 14 2006 at 1:36 pm | Filed under: Feature Article
Reuters is reporting that wild swans in Michigan may have been infected with a strain of the avian bird flu virus.
U.S. officials believe that wild swans in Michigan may have been infected with a strain of the bird flu virus, but it is not thought to be a highly pathogenic strain and is one that has been seen previously in North America, the White House said on Monday.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said that officials from the Agriculture and Interior Departments would be announcing the findings at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT).
The officials will “be announcing that routine surveillance has indicated the possible presence of an H5N1 avian influenza virus in wild swans … in Michigan, however this is not what we’re accustomed to hearing about from Asia,” Snow told reporters.
One particular report estimated that the bird flu would hit Alaska this month. Michigan crosses paths with a major bird migration route that starts in Asia and the Pacific Rim, through Alaska and then into the nation’s midsection.
Michigan’s spot on a major migratory bird route puts it in the path of the much-feared bird flu’s slow spread from Asia, making it likely to get to the state before many other parts of the United States, experts say.
According to scientists, it is likely that bird flu — one strain of which the World Health Organization has blamed for 103 deaths and the death or slaughter of millions of birds — will spread from Asia to Alaska as early as next month, as birds migrate around the Pacific.
From there, it could spread to ducks, geese and swans that take a continent-long route that sweeps south from Alaska and then swings across the nation’s midsection.
Swans are particularly vulnerable to the H5N1 strain so it should come as no surprise that it is in Michigan already; although it may seem a bit early based on the report above.
I am not overly concerned with the potential to import this particular type of flu because it appears to be a natural migration. I am more concerned with the potential to try and exploit the presence of this disease and other biological pathogens by terrorists. Bio terror is a very menacing type of violence to battle as we may not be aware of it until it spreads. It pays to be vigilant. Especially since Michigan is widely reported as a major center for Arab Muslim immigration related to terrorist activity. You can never be too careful nowadays.
UPDATE: A new Reuters report gives a much better description of the flu strain that has been found:
The bird flu virus has been found in a pair of wild swans in Michigan, but U.S. officials said on Monday the birds have not contracted the deadly H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa, killing more than 135 people.
Routine tests conducted in a Michigan gaming area found two of 20 swans have what government officials believe is likely a low-pathogenic strain of H5N1. Confirmatory test results are underway and will be available in about two weeks, but officials stressed there is no threat to human health.
“We can definitely say this is not the H5N1 highly pathogenic virus that’s been found in Asia and other parts of the world,” said the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Ron DeHaven, head of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. “It’s not the introduction of that virus into North America.”
avian bird flu, H5N1
Somehow I’m not comforted by ‘mild’ or ‘nonvirulent’ strains coming into the country. I’m no virologist, but don’t they have the capacity to mutate also?
Agreed. The danger with the bird flu is in its potential to mutate in such a manner as to change into a form that can transmit from human to human.
We really can’t do anything to prevent the natural migration so my concern would be on efforts to watch for cases of human to human transmission that would indicate such a mutation.
Tony Snow has been criticized for making an announcement emphasizing that this is not a deadly strain but I think it was a good idea. Had he not made the announcement we would no doubt have seen blogs and perhaps the MSM leap to conclusions.
Well since we can anticipate possible mutation of the ‘nonvirulant’ virus, I’m hoping folks are preparing for a breakout of flu. Please stock up on extra foods, water, medicines, cash, (good lists are online)and entertainment in case the power goes out. Much better to be comfy in case of emergency than without. Blessings to you all.