February 12, 2004

Test Results Confirm Delaware Bird Flu Case Low Pathogenic

Tests have confirmed that the case of avian influenza found last week in a Delaware flock is a low pathogenic strain, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse said Wednesday.

Scuse, in a prepared statement, said he was informed of the test results by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Ed Curlett said Monday that preliminary testing showed that the virus was definitely not the same as the disease plaguing Asia and that it was likely low pathogenic, but further tests were needed for confirmation.

The test results from the USDA lab released Wednesday provided that confirmation, showing the the strain to be the low-pathogenic type H7 N2.

A second case of avian influenza was reported this week in another Delaware flock, but final tests are not completed yet, Scuse said.

"There are more than 75 farms within six miles of the infected farms, all of which are under state quarantine until further notice," he said. "Birds over 21 days of age on these farms will be tested every 10 days for evidence of the virus."