Philadelphia Birds Test Positive For Mild Avian Flu Strain...

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT CLOSES LIVE BIRD MARKET IN PHILADELPHIA
Not Asian Strain and Not a Threat to Human Health; Pa. Poultry Remains Safe
November 15, 2005
HARRISBURG - As a routine precaution, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture temporarily closed a live bird market in Philadelphia today after birds tested positive for a mild strain of avian influenza. This strain poses no threat to human health and is completely different from the strain currently in Asia.

"There are many types of avian influenza and this particular strain posed no threat to people," said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "These strains are discovered about 15 to 20 times a year among commercial flocks and live bird markets, and there is no reason for alarm."

"We have the measures in place to detect avian influenza quickly, and this occurrence shows that our procedures are working," Wolff added. "As soon as the department was made aware of the positive test, we sent two of our veterinarians to the site to the close the market, dispose of the birds and clean the facility according to state protocols."

Pennsylvania leads the nation in avian influenza surveillance, testing more than 240,000 samples each year. If a bird tests positive for avian influenza, then the flock is immediately quarantined. The virus for this particular bird market was discovered during a routine surveillance.

This type of virus does not cause bird or human illness and is commonly found in wild water birds.
"Avian influenza is not a food borne illness, and consumers can continue to be confident that meat and eggs are safe for their consumption," said State Veterinarian Dr. Paul Knepley.

For more information on avian influenza, visit the Department's Web site at www.agriculture.state.pa.us (click on avian influenza).

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