Possible Bird Flu in Wild Birds in US -- But Not Worrisome Version

[LiberalHeart]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Scientists have discovered the possible presence of bird flu in the United States -- in wild swans in Monroe County, Michigan, near the banks of Lake Erie -- but it does not appear to be the worrisome strain that the government has long feared.

Routine tests on two seemingly healthy wild mute swans in Michigan suggest they might have the H5N1 virus. Confirmatory tests are under way. But other testing has ruled out that it could the so-called highly pathogenic version of that virus that has ravaged poultry in Asia, and killed at least 138 people worldwide, the Agriculture Department announced Monday.

More:
http://wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=5277552

(I'd like to know what you folks think about this -- i.e. is this "happy talk" from the gov just to keep us calm, or could this actually be the bad stuff? This is right down the road from me.)

[Kagemusha]

1. There's more than one type of bird flu, it's that simple.

Less lethal types spread more easily anyway.

[SaveElmer]

2. This is probably a low-pathogenic version of H5N1...

Not the strain that is spreading mainly in Asia...

Same thing was found in Canada last year...it is not dangerous to humans in this form...

It's not even particularly dangerous to birds in this form...however if it was found to be widespread they would cull to minimize any mutation...

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. In other words...

"We need to cause a distraction, so we are pulling out Bird Flu once again. But we don't want it to be fatal... yet. So it will be a less dangerous strain so no one will be surprised when no one dies."

[truebrit71]

4. Exactly.

Or...."We didn't get the bump in the polls with the latest terror "threat" we'd expected, so we thought we'd fall back on this old chestnut to scare the sheeple."

[jaxx]

5. Yes! Most people only read the headlines.........Bird Flu is Here

One more scare to put out to the sheep so they'll think their saviour GW needs their support and will save them.

[Betsy Ross]

6. This flu causes a low-grade fever and body aches

but goes away in a few days. :sarcasm: