States step up testing for virulent strain

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided $1.06 million to states along the Pacific Flyway to sample migratory birds for signs of virulent H5N1 strain bird flu this summer and fall.

About 1 million geese, 12 million ducks and 150,000 swans returning from the Arctic pass through the Pacific Flyway each year, beginning in August. Also, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds arrive in Washington between July and October.

While there have been no known cases of humans contracting the avian influenza virus from wild birds anywhere in the world, state wildlife officials continue to urge hunters to use common sense precautions when handling game, including to cook game meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees and to not handle dead birds or birds that appear sick.

Washington Fish and Wildlife Department has received $140,000 from that grant plus $300,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for capturing about 2,500 wild waterfowl and shorebirds in nets so they can be tested and released, as well as collecting respiratory and fecal samples for laboratory testing. Priority will be given to testing any birds found dead.

In addition, the agency plans to test 800 hunter-harvested waterfowl at check stations this fall.

About 100 birds were tested in the past year with no indications of avian flu.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department is focusing on birds migrating from Alaskan, and possibly eastern Russian, breeding areas that arrive in Montana in July and August. Technicians are trying to collect samples from 2,400 birds—including tundra swans, snow geese, pintails, and mallards, plus fecal waterfowl concentrate, including urban duck flocks.

Alaska surveillance began last year as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service researchers collected samples from thousands of ducks, geese, swans and sandhill cranes. None of the birds tested had the disease. A second round of tests is underway in Alaska’s waterfowl breeding grounds as well as in early Native Alaskan hunts.

Idaho Fish and Game officials defined their role in the avian flu issue during the March Fish and Game Commission meeting, noting that they are working with USDA officials. Fish and Game will use federal funds to test and monitor migratory birds this summer and fall.

“Once it becomes a human health issue that will take precedence on how it is managed,” the officials said according to the meeting minutes. “The department’s role now is to monitor migratory bird populations and sound the bell when and if the disease is detected.”