Sunday, December 16, 2012

Biologists study avian influenza viruses using Chena River ducks Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Biologists study avian influenza viruses using Chena River ducks

Dec 16, 2012
FAIRBANKS — The trap was baited and set, but the ducks weren’t cooperating, which wouldn’t have been a big deal had the temperature not been 30 degrees below zero.
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Lindberg and Meixell, a biologist with U.S. Geological Survey in Anchorage, are using the ducks to study how avian influenza viruses move through a bird population. Specifically, Lindberg and Meixell are trying to figure out what percentage of ducks are infected with the bird flu, how long they are infected and how long they are immune to

infection.

“We think they have immunity throughout much of the winter but we don’t know,” Lindberg said.

Waterfowl, for the most part, shorebirds and coastal birds to a lesser extent, are the major reservoir of avian influenza virus in North America. More viruses have been isolated from ducks than any other species, Lindberg said.

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