Tell me why it is not in the US???

I've read hundreds of news articles on the bird flu and where it has spread. Tell me why it's not in the US yet. I mean...it's all over, but not here? That just doesn't make sense. Is that to say, the US has magically fended it off for 5 years? Does anyone think it might be here and we just don't know it yet?

 

HUMAN CASES OF BIRD FLU
26 July 2006
Country	Cases	Deaths
Azerbaijan	8	5
Cambodia	6	6
China	19	12
Djibouti	1
Egypt	14	6
Indonesia	54	42
Iraq	2	2
Thailand	23	15
Turkey	12	4
Vietnam	93	42
Total	232	134
Source: World Health Organization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 it's  only infected persons who have everyday close contact with domestic fowl.  Or who drink Raw Duck Blood.  Most Americans don't fall into either category.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It took time for the virus to move west across Eurasia. It's coming. High path H5N1 in birds will get here this fall on the east atlantic flyways.   Why it didn't get here a year ago east asia flyway, I don't know. It may be that that route is mostly costal birds who don't make it to the big western china wildlife mixing areas like quinghai lake.

It may be here already in wildlife, unrecognized. Once it gets here it will be here for a long time.

gardener

That's supposed to arriving Asia.  Oops.

lol!

You can never have too much coffee stored away!  Thanks, Hope4Us for the editing tip.  Gardner, there's a plan in place to test the migratory birds coming south from Alaska this fall.  Each state is involved -  the specific places to be tested will depend on the pattern of the migration such as resting layover areas, etc.  This may call for testing on private land, public recreation areas, etc., but there seems to be alot of vigilance in place specifically for this fall's migration.  Evidently there are 4 migratory flyways that cross over the US, and there is a council that monitors each, and works with other agencies so that all efforts are coordinated. I should add that the Dept. of Agriculture in each state is very involved, at least they are in GA.  They govern veterinarians in the state among other things, and information was shared at a state veterinarian meeting last spring about bird flu and monitoring.  Our state epidemiologist is a veterinarian.  There are guidelines for the public as to what to do if they come across dead birds, especially birds of prey and waterfowl.  Songbirds seem to be less threatening, but I don't know why.   The more eyes, the better.  Your state's Dept of Agriculture is a good site to look at from time to time.