Grassroots Science

Bird flu advice: Be prepared, not scared
SECRETARIES: Cities, businesses will need to take care of their own.
By LIZ RUSKIN Anchorage Daily News Published: March 21, 2006

WASHINGTON — The first appearance in America of the deadly avian flu may well be in birds migrating from Asia to Alaska, three Bush Cabinet secretaries said Monday. “It is increasingly likely that we will detect a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu in birds within the U.S. borders, possibly as early as this year,” Interior Secretary Gale Norton said.

But she and other officials emphasized during an hour-long media briefing that a bird testing positive for the virus does not mean the disease will become widespread among humans. The message was that people need to be prepared, not scared.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ story/7551719p-7463303c.html

U.S. to Increase Testing Of Wild Birds for Avian Flu
By Rob SteinWashington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 21, 2006; Page A05
Federal officials announced plans yesterday to sharply increase testing of wild birds to try to detect the arrival of the deadly avian flu in the United States as early as possible and stanch any outbreaks of disease.

With the virus spreading worldwide, officials predicted it could show up in this country as early as later this year, most likely in wild birds during their annual migration from Asia through Alaska.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ article/2006/03/20/AR2006032001457.html

Site Search Tags: testing, ADN