Three new avian flu viruses found in Midwest

Scientists are seeking to determine the severity of three recently discovered highly pathogenic avian flu viruses found in poultry and wild birds in the U.S. Midwest. While there appears to be an unlikely threat to humans, the presence of the viruses could have a potential long-term threat.

One of the viruses, H5N2, has already led to the slaughter of millions of turkeys and chickens. No humans have become infected yet, although scientists say it is possible someone who comes in direct contact with sick birds could catch the virus. The USDA and the CDC are working together to determine if the viruses will be able to mutate and become human viruses.

"Most of the time, these viruses don't have human disease potential, but obviously you need to be very careful," said Dr. Stephen Morse, an expert in emerging infections at Columbia University. "Nowadays, you can't say anything about flu with certainty."

This potential threat is crucial for the Nacogdoches area where Tyson Foods has a factory. The workers who come in direct contact with the poultry have to be extremely cautious in the next few weeks as the CDC determines the severity of the viruses. It is extremely unlikely that an infected human could pass the disease on to another human.

The concern is if the virus becomes established in the breeding grounds in Alaska and Northern Canada, there is a potential for these viruses to become an annual burden each time the birds migrate south.

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