US: Avian Influenza Found in Domestic Ducks
07 January 2010
Domestic ducks have been found to be positive for the avian influenza (H5) virus during routine surveillance at a live market in Texas. Japan has banned imports of poultry and eggs from Texas. Japan is a small market for U.S. poultry, accounting for $43 million in sales last year.
Texas is the sixth-largest US producer of chicken meat.
The Texas Animal Health Commission restricted movement of about 1,000 domesticated ducks in the north-central part of the state after routine tests at an associated live bird market found a 'weak positive' result for avian influenza.
The live bird market slaughters and processes animals on site as they are purchased, and the ducks were not part of a commercial flock.
No clinical illness at the market or in the flock has been discovered. Additional samples from the duck flock are being tested.