June 5, 2008

USDA releases bird flu genome sequences
    

USDA has released the complete genetic coding sequences of 150 different bird flu viruses.

The information could help to improve the scientific understanding of bird flu.

This marks a major milestone in bird flu research and the information would help researchers to better understand virus biology and improve diagnostic tests for bird flu virues, according to David Suarez, research leader of the Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research Unit at the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory.