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 Three young geese collected in Sterling Heights, Michigan, about 20
miles (30 km) north of Detroit, were infected with the highly
pathogenic H5N2 flu strain, according to the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources. The state is now focusing on preventing the
spread of the disease to poultry, Director Keith Creagh said.
Nationwide, more than 46 million chickens and turkeys have been
killed by the disease or culled to prevent its spread. Most are in
Iowa, the top U.S. egg-producing state, and Minnesota, the nation's
top turkey-producing state.
Michigan is the 21st state to confirm a case of bird flu since late
2014 and the sixth to detect it only in wild or free-ranging bids,
according to the department. Fifteen states have found the virus in
poultry flocks.
The discovery of the disease in Michigan was "not unexpected given
avian influenza has been found in a number of our neighboring states
and Ontario,” said Jamie Clover Adams, director of the Michigan
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Wild birds are thought to be carriers of the virus, which also can
be tracked onto poultry farms by people or trucks that come into
contact with contaminated feces. It may also be carried into poultry
barns by wind blowing in contaminated dirt or dust.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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