September 2, 2005

US experts check for bird flu in Alaska

US Geological Survey (USGS) experts said a team would visit Alaska soon to test Steller's eiders, a type of duck, for the bird flu virus.

A USGS spokesperson stated that Alaska was likely to be the front line where bird flu might spread to the US, through infected migratory birds from Asia or Russia's Siberian region.

The USGS wanted to monitor migratory birds in North America, and has expressed concern that some might stop off in US territories in the Pacific such as Guam and Hawaii.

USGS reported that teams have already sampled a sea goose species called the Pacific Black Brant in northern Alaska's national petroleum reserve, and Emperor geese in western Alaska's Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

Shore birds such as bar-tailed godwits and sharp-tailed sandpipers were also among other species being sampled.