Shorebirds at Refuge Tested for Avian Flu

Federal scientists have started testing migratory birds for signs of the highly pathogenic Asian H5N1 virus strain that causes avian flu.

Testing of shorebirds began on an Anchorage coastal wildlife refuge, said Bruce Woods, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

It was the first sampling in a summerlong project to swab birds for avian flu throughout the state. Nationwide, the goal is to sample 75,000 to 100,000 wild birds.

In Alaska, about $4 million in federal money will be spent studying about 15,000 birds, Woods said. Samples will be collected from more than 40 locations.