Bird Flu Could Migrate to U.S. [News]

Bird Flu Could Migrate to U.S.
Baltimore Sun
2006 March 5
Frank D. Roylance

Scientists identify Alaska as possible gateway for virus to enter Americas; focus put on wildfowl

As spring approaches in the Northern Hemisphere and millions of birds begin their ancient long-distance migrations, scientific evidence is mounting that the deadly Asian strain of H5N1 "bird flu" virus is flying with them.

If so, the virus may soon wing its way into Alaska - where biologists are establishing an unprecedented surveillance network as part of an aggressive, $29 million early warning campaign with a new focus on birds in the wild. Until now, scientists' greatest focus has been on domestic flocks.

From Alaska, scientists fear, the virus will spread into all the Americas and ultimately become a global presence - raising the odds it will mutate and touch off a new human flu pandemic.

"I think it is more likely than not that we are going to see [H5N1] bird flu in the Western Hemisphere," said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

"Whether it takes place during this migratory season or the next is uncertain," he said. But "I wouldn't be at all surprised if we get some introduction of the virus during this ... season."

Scientists already suspect wild swans of carrying the H5N1 virus last month onto an island in northern Germany, where more than 100 of the graceful birds were found dead.

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