Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Found in Alaskan Duck
US - The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in a wild mallard duck from a state wildlife refuge near Fairbanks, Alaska.
30 August 2016
2 minute read
By: H5N2 is the same strain that caused enormous losses in the US's poultry industry in the spring of 2015, but it has not been found in the US since June 2015.
APHIS reminded anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial producer to review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds.
The wild mallard duck was captured and a sample tested as part of ongoing wild bird surveillance.
The agency said it is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations. Since 1 July 2016 USDA and its partners have tested approximately 4,000 samples.
