Maryland too tests positive for a bird flu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. agriculture officials said on Friday that tests found the H5N1 avian influenza virus in mallard ducks in Maryland but it appeared to be a low-pathogenic strain that posed no risk to humans.

The virus was found in fecal samples from Queen Anne's County in Maryland, on the U.S. central Atlantic coast.

"Testing has ruled out the possibility of this being the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa," said the Agriculture Department in a statement. "Test results thus far indicate this is low pathogenic avian influenza, which poses no risk to human health."