Disease mapping link

 

 

also, did anyone see this article?  I find it weird that they are stressing so hard that NY is clear and free...and why do they exclude Hawaii in this sampling, I know they have some sampling going on as well.

 

Lethal Strain of Avian Influenza Not Detected in New York or North America

ALBANY, NY -- (10/03/2006; 1500)(EIS) -- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced that DEC and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services program are working cooperatively to sample wild birds for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). To date, all birds sampled have tested negative for HPAI.

DEC and USDA are working towards a goal of sampling 1,600 normal, healthy wild birds in New York State this year and to date have sampled 544 birds. Excluding Hawaii, this initiative is part of a nationwide effort to sample wild birds in all states. The sampling focuses on waterfowl, including Canada geese, mallards, and mute swans; but also includes other waterfowl as well as many species of gulls and shorebirds. In addition to the sampling of normal, healthy wild birds, DEC's Wildlife Pathology Unit has submitted samples from more than 1,000 birds of various species that were sick or found dead and had been submitted to the Unit for diagnosis.

New York State Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Markets have both partnered in the State's overall flu preparedness through their testing and monitoring efforts.

Neither the lethal H5N1 HPAI strain of virus circulating in parts of Asia, Europe and Africa, nor the low-pathogenic H5N1 strain of virus being found in other states has been found in any wild birds this year in New York State. Low pathogenic strains of avian influenza commonly occur in wild birds and typically cause only minor sickness, or no noticeable signs of disease in birds. The highly pathogenic form of avian influenza still has not been detected in the more than 20,000 birds sampled across North America this year.

For hunters who may still be concerned, wear gloves when cleaning your game and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards. Cooking meat to at least 165(degrees) F will also kill any virus that may be present. For more information, refer to the DEC website at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/avianfluqa.html .

DEC and USDA will continue taking samples throughout New York State in the next few months. Live birds as well as hunter-killed birds will be sampled. Only a simple swab is needed for testing so live birds are not harmed through the sampling. Swabs are taken in the field and then sent to The New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University where they are tested for the virus. Sampling is expected to continue into February 2007 to reach the 1,600 sample size goal.