Joint USDA And DOI News Release: Confirmatory Avian Influenza Tests Complete On Ohio Duck Samples

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2006 - The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior today announced final test results, which confirm that no avian influenza virus was found in samples collected earlier this month from wild Northern pintail ducks in Ohio.

The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed that there was no avian influenza present in samples collected from wild Northern pintail ducks in Ottawa County, Ohio. Initial screening results announced on Oct. 14 indicated that H5 and N1 subtypes might be present in the collected samples, but further testing was necessary to confirm the H and N subtypes as well as pathogenicity.

To date, USDA and DOI have announced 12 presumptive positive and/or confirmatory test results in six states (MI, MD, PA, MT, IL and OH). As the expanded surveillance of wild birds for highly pathogenic avian influenza increases in the coming months, USDA and DOI expect additional detections of the "North American strain" of low pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (LPAI H5N1).

Low pathogenic strains of avian influenza occur naturally in wild birds and typically cause only minor sickness or no noticeable signs of disease in birds. These strains are common in the U.S. and around the world. Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses are very different from the more severe highly pathogenic H5N1 circulating in parts of Asia, Europe and Africa. Highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza spread rapidly and are often fatal to chickens and turkeys.

Source: USDA Release number 0429.06

October 26, 2006.