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Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says
Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified mutations in the the first severe bird flu case in the US that may increase its ability to infect humans.  These mutations, found in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, play a key role in helping the virus attach to cells in the upper respiratory tract. This discovery stems from the first severe US case of H5N1, involving a Louisiana resident over 65 who had direct contact with infected backyard birds.  Earlier report: First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US Notably, these mutations weren’t present in the bird sam…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens
Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens Production has been halted at the largest producer of fresh eggs in the United States after bird flu was discovered in chickens. Cal-Maine Foods reported that one of the company’s facilities located in Parmer County, Texas, tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), resulting in depopulation of approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, or approximately 3.6 percent of its total flock. "Production at the facility has temporarily ceased as the company follows the protocols prescribed by the USDA," Cal-Maine said in a statement, noting that it is working to s…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Strain Found In Backyard Flock In CT Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Strain Found In Backyard Flock In CT
Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Strain Found In Backyard Flock In CT Connecticut officials have confirmed that a serious strain of bird flu was found in a non-commercial backyard flock in the state. Samples from a flock in New London County tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to an announcement from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, March 2. The department said avian influenza doesn't present an immediate public health concern, and there haven't been any human cases of this strain in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said recent detections of this strain among…

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by Nicole Valinote
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Dangerous Bird Flu Detected In Connecticut Dangerous Bird Flu Detected In Connecticut
Dangerous Bird Flu Detected In Connecticut Bird flu has been detected in wild ducks in Connecticut, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The agency announced on Monday, Feb. 28 that routine surveillance by DEEP biologists and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff detected the presence of avian flu in wild ducks during an inspection. DEEP officials noted that wild birds can be infected with the virus and show no signs of illness, and as they migrate, the disease can potentially spread to new areas. Signs of the avian flu include depression, decreased feed and water consumpt…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Man Nabbed With Smuggled Finches Hidden In Hair-Curlers At JFK Airport CT Man Nabbed With Smuggled Finches Hidden In Hair-Curlers At JFK Airport
CT Man Nabbed With Smuggled Finches Hidden In Hair-Curlers At JFK Airport A 39-year-old man was nabbed by customs officials attempting to smuggle 34 live finches into the country to be used in singing contests in Brooklyn and Queens. Francis Gurahoo, 39, of East Hartford, Connecticut, was arrested on Sunday, June 16, at John F. Kennedy International Airport with the finches stashed inside plastic hair curlers, said John Marzulli, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. According to an arrest document, the smuggled finches are used in singing contests in Brooklyn and Queens and wages are placed on the birds …

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by Kathy Reakes