Avian Flu Update

A couple of things of interest concerning the Avian Flu before anybody hears some report that gives them a panic attack. There are cases of Avian flu in the US but according to this report this is a completely different kind than the one causing all the concern. It is H5N1 that is the dangerous version and they are waiting for lab results to determine just which H5 subtype has cause bird deaths in Ukraine.

Turkeys on a farm in North Carolina have tested positive for a low-pathogenic form of avian influenza that poses no risk to human health.

The H3N2 strain found on the farm has been detected elsewhere in the United States this past year and is of no concern.

Ed Loyd, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman, explained, 'Bird flu is as common as the human flu. With attention on high (pathogenic forms) in Asia and Eastern Europe, there has been more attention on bird flu this year.'

And I guess I'm going to keep eating my chicken.

-- In response to consumer fears regarding the consumption of poultry, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization have reissued a statement confirming that there is no danger of contracting avian influenza from cooked poultry.

Even eating a bird infected with H5N1 does not pose a risk to the consumer as long as the meat was thoroughly cooked at a minimum temperature of 70 Celsius (158 Fahrenheit) and none of the meat is raw or red in appearance.

Cooked eggs are also safe to eat, although eggs from areas with outbreaks of avian influenza in birds should not be consumed with runny yolks.

Also, the deathtoll in Asia rises by 2.