Illinois bird flu is low pathogenic

The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the presence of H6N2 through virus isolation in a pool of five samples of the 11 samples collected from wild Green-winged Teals in Fulton County, Illinois. Initial screening results announced late last month indicated that H5 and N1 avian influenza subtypes might be present in the collected samples.

The initial rapid screening tests are highly sensitive and can detect active and inactive viruses in samples, so it is not uncommon to have positive results for a specific subtype on the initial screen test and yet not be able to isolate a virus of that subtype. This was the case for these samples, which tested as a weak positive for both H5 and N1 in the initial screen tests. During confirmatory testing, H5 and N1 subtypes were not found but instead H6 and N2, confirming that the virus is LPAI.

Low pathogenic avian influenza does not pose a risk to human health and is commonly found in wild North American birds.