Bird flu found in wild migratory birds

ATHENS, Ga., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a pathogenic form of avian flu H5N1 has occurred in wild migratory birds in Mongolia.

The samples had been taken from birds last week in Mongolia by field veterinarians William Karesh and Martin Gilbert of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

It is the first instance of this viral strain occurring in wild migratory birds with no apparent contact to domestic poultry or waterfowl, according to Wildlife Conservation Society officials.

As of Friday, preliminary tests from one dead whooper swan collected in Mongolia have shown the presence of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, all other samples were negative for the virus.

However, wildlife and health experts maintain that indiscriminate culling of wild migratory bird populations would be ineffective in preventing the spread of avian flu.

"Focusing our limited resources on the hubs and activities where humans, livestock and wildlife come into close contact, is the best hope for successfully preventing the spread of avian flu and protecting both people and animals," said Karesh.