Experts: Chances unlikely for spread of bird flu to Nevada

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005 | 6:15 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - The avian flu virus that has swept portions of the world is unlikely to be carried into Nevada by waterfowl and other wild birds anytime soon, state wildlife officials said.

"I think chances are remote. That's the word to use," said Craig Mortimore, a biologist and waterfowl expert at the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Mortimore, at the request of Gov. Kenny Guinn, has drafted a response plan in the event that avian flu spreads to Nevada's birds.

It's part of a statewide planning effort initiated in October amid increasing concern over avian flu and the possibility it could cause a global pandemic.

"It does seem very remote but nevertheless we need to be prepared," Lisa Foster, Guinn's deputy chief of staff, told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"We're trying to make sure they are doing surveillance and are paying attention to the birds that are in our state or may come into our state," she added.

Nevada is located along the Pacific Flyway, a route taken by millions of waterfowl every year as they migrate between Alaska and Mexico.

Mortimore said he sees little chance that disease-carrying wild birds from Asia will contaminate North American birds.

"When birds contract it, they become symptomatic and die fairly quickly," he said. "The likelihood of those birds making it across the Bering Sea and down our coast seems remote. They'd be dead."

Federal officials are initiating detetection plans to determine whether avian flu arrives at Alaska, the most likely point of contact between North American and Asian birds.

Surveillance in Nevada, including random sampling of birds killed by hunters and live birds captured by biologists, could commence if needed, Mortimore said.

Hunter Dale Dyer of Reno said he has bagged more than 50 ducks this season and doesn't worry about avian flu.

"As far as hunters go, it's not that big an issue," Dyer said. "It's mostly the media that's making a big deal out of it."

But hunter Jim Bunting of Redding Calif., who recently visited Reno, admitted that he now is thinking about avian flu.

"It's spreading. It's just a matter of time before it's here," he said.

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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com