May 7, 2007

Poultry in US state West Virginia tests negative for H5N2

State and federal agriculture officials in West Virginia report they have found no other cases of H5N2 low-pathogenic bird flu in the state after a flock of turkeys with the disease was discovered April 1.

Buddy Davidson, public relations officer for the state Department of Agriculture, said up to five rounds of tests have been conducted on flocks within a two-mile radius of the affected flock, and two to three rounds have been done on flocks within a six-mile radius.

A hold order on poultry litter in surrounding flocks was lifted in mid-April, Davidson said.

The flock was discovered with the virus during a routine screening conducted on West Virginia poultry just before going to slaughter, he said. This is a more stringent pattern of testing than is required by the US Department of Agriculture, but local growers have signed on to the process. None of the birds showed any signs of being sick.