USDA: Bird Flu at Texas Farm Is Deadly [View All]

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USDA: Bird Flu at Texas Farm Is Deadly

By T.A. BADGER

SAN ANTONIO - A strain of avian flu found on a Texas chicken farm is considered far deadlier to poultry than originally thought and has spread to live bird markets in Houston, federal officials said Monday.

However, the flu is not the same strain that has killed at least 22 people in Asia, said Dr. Ron DeHaven of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The highly contagious strain, found in Gonzales County in South Texas about 50 miles east of San Antonio, poses little threat to people, said Dr. Nancy Cox of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


"Nonetheless, as we move forward in this particular situation, we have to keep an open mind," Cox said.

On Friday, state officials said the outbreak was a low-pathogenic version of bird flu, meaning it posed little risk to humans and only low risk to chickens.

However, it was reclassified as high-pathogenic after genetic testing during the weekend, DeHaven said

more:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/02/23/ap/Headlines/d80t96100.txt