Philadelphia Bird Market Closed After Positive Bird Flu Tests
A live bird market in
Stephanie Meyers, press secretary for the state agriculture department, told Dow Jones Newswires the signs point to a mild, or low-pathogenic, strain of avian influenza.
There have been no bird deaths and no birds are sick, she said.
The discovery of the avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, was the result of routine surveillance, the release said.
"Mild strains of avian influenza are very common in poultry, and we have no reason to think this strain is any different," Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff in the release.
Meyers said while the exact strain of avian influenza isn't known yet, the department has sent samples to be tested and expects to have the results in three to five days.
The closure of the bird market was simply a routine precaution, the department said.
"We have the measures in place to detect avian influenza quickly, and this occurrence shows that our procedures are working," Wolff said. "As soon as the department was made aware of the positive test, state and federal veterinarians were sent to the site to close the market, dispose of the birds and clean the facility according to state protocols."
The department is investigating the distribution channels to and from the market to ensure isolation of all sources of the virus, the release said.
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=20380#post20380
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?Q=140472&A=390
and a copy (from that link) for the forum:
"AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT CLOSES LIVE BIRD MARKET IN PHILADELPHIA
July 12, 2006
HARRISBURG – As a routine precaution, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture temporarily closed a live bird market in Philadelphia today after birds tested positive for a strain of avian influenza.
“Mild strains of avian influenza are very common in poultry, and we have no reason to think this strain is any different,” said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. “If cooked properly, meat and eggs are safe to eat and consumers can continue to be confident that Pennsylvania poultry products are the safest in the world.”
Mild cases of avian influenza are routinely discovered in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The virus for this particular bird market was discovered during a routine surveillance and does not cause bird or human illness.
“We have the measures in place to detect avian influenza quickly, and this occurrence shows that our procedures are working,” Wolff said. “As soon as the department was made aware of the positive test, state and federal veterinarians were sent to the site to close the market, dispose of the birds and clean the facility according to state protocols.”
The Department of Agriculture will investigate all distribution channels of the birds as they traveled to and from the market, to ensure isolation of all sources of the virus.
Pennsylvania leads the nation in avian influenza surveillance, testing more than 240,000 samples each year. If a bird tests positive for avian influenza, the flock is immediately quarantined.
For more information on avian influenza, visit the Department's Web site at www.agriculture.state.pa.us (click on avian influenza)."
Is that a different story from that one from last november ?
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?Q=137098&A=390
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT CLOSES LIVE BIRD MARKET IN PHILADELPHIA
Not Asian Strain and Not a Threat to Human Health; Pa. Poultry Remains Safe
November 15, 2005
HARRISBURG - As a routine precaution, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture temporarily closed a live bird market in Philadelphia today after birds tested positive for a mild strain of avian influenza. This strain poses no threat to human health and is completely different from the strain currently in Asia.
"There are many types of avian influenza and this particular strain posed no threat to people," said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "These strains are discovered about 15 to 20 times a year among commercial flocks and live bird markets, and there is no reason for alarm."
"We have the measures in place to detect avian influenza quickly, and this occurrence shows that our procedures are working," Wolff added. "As soon as the department was made aware of the positive test, we sent two of our veterinarians to the site to the close the market, dispose of the birds and clean the facility according to state protocols."
Pennsylvania leads the nation in avian influenza surveillance, testing more than 240,000 samples each year. If a bird tests positive for avian influenza, then the flock is immediately quarantined. The virus for this particular bird market was discovered during a routine surveillance.
This type of virus does not cause bird or human illness and is commonly found in wild water birds.
"Avian influenza is not a food borne illness, and consumers can continue to be confident that meat and eggs are safe for their consumption," said State Veterinarian Dr. Paul Knepley.
For more information on avian influenza, visit the Department's Web site at www.agriculture.state.pa.us (click on avian influenza).
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