As part of the comprehensive surveillance program for avian influenza virus carried by wild birds, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services obtained positive samples of H5Ni from hunter-killed waterfowl.

• American Wigeon, Colleton County, SC., January 14th
• Blue-Winged Teal, Colleton County, SC. January 18th.
• Northern Shoveller. Hyde County, NC. January 18th.

All H5 and H7 isolates irrespective of pathogenicity are reportable to the World Organization of Animal Health.  Since this isolation was from a wild bird, trade restrictions will probably not be imposed.  The wigeon and teal were killed in Colleton County, SC., presumably in the costal wetlands region at the southernmost tip of the county located midway between Charleston, SC. and Savannah, GA. Hyde County, NC incorporates wetlands and a wildlife reserve and is the location of a 2million egg production complex.

This report confirms the need to maintain both direct and indirect separation of wild birds from domestic poultry.  It is self-evident that no person connected with the poultry industry should be hunting wild fowl since the risk of contamination with avian influenza outweighs any possible benefits. The reported isolation relates to a high level of recovery of avian influenza viruses from migratory waterfowl as described in the January 7th webinar presented by USDA-APHIS.

This case is epidemiologically distinct from the two limited outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza identified in flocks situated on the Avalon Peninsula of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Isolation of H5N1 virus with Eurasian genes suggests widespread dissemination in the Atlantic flyway with implications for all commercial poultry from Maine to Florida