Wyoming releases results

Tests come back negative for bird flu

By The Associated Press

LARAMIE - Test results for the first birds sampled in Wyoming for highly pathogenic avian influenza have come back negative.

Several government agencies began testing wild and domestic bird populations in Wyoming for the disease. It has not been found in North America.

The first test results come from 50 Canada geese that were tested during a banding operation June 19-21 at Eden and Big Sandy Reservoirs north of Farson.

The birds were tested for the H5N1 strain of the disease, which has caused some human fatalities in Eastern Europe and Asia. Experts believe that if the disease enters North America, it will most likely come in through Alaska.The Wyoming Department of Game and Fish plans to collect about 500 more samples from birds this fall from species that could have migrated from Alaska. The department will test 400 migratory game birds and 100 shorebirds.

The samples will come from field checks of pintails, geese, teal and sandhill cranes killed by hunters.

The shorebirds will include long-billed dowitchers and pectoral and buff-breasted sandpipers. The shorebirds will be netted and released with the help of the Casper chapter of the Audubon Society.

Dr. Cynthia Tate, assistant veterinarian at the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish, said the department will not accept birds that the general public might want to drop off for testing. But Tate requested that if anyone finds five or more dead birds of the targeted species in the field that they contact the game department.

Tate urged the public to take precautions when handling dead birds.

"Minimize direct contact with wild dead birds," Tate said. "Wear rubber or latex gloves, or invert a plastic bag over your hand."

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