What is the Department of the Interior doing to check wild migratory birds for avian influenza?

Robert Leedy
Chief, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Alaska
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Alaska is a mixing ground for many birds that migrate back and forth from North America to Asia and is considered to be a likely entry point if the virus is carried in to North American by wild birds. The whole intent of the early detection here is to try have an early warning so if the Avian influenza does enter North America through wild birds that we’ll know ahead of time so that we are able to take appropriate action so that we may contain it or follow the pathways to places where it could affect poultry, even if it doesn’t affect people.