Low-Risk H5N1 Strain Found Near Washington in Wild Ducks

US federal agencies announced Friday that a mild form of the H5N1 avian influenza virus had turned up in wild mallard duck droppings collected in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, raising questions about the pathogen's presence in North America.

Samples gathered on 2 August were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, where nine tested positive. Officials from the Agriculture and Interior departments emphasized that this low-pathogenic subtype carries no risk to human health, noting the ducks appeared completely healthy.

Hunters who target mallards were advised to wash hands carefully and cook game thoroughly as a basic precaution.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.