Possible bird flu discovered near Lake Erie

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered possible bird flu in two wild swans on the shore of Lake Erie, but it does not appear to be the much-feared Asian strain that has ravaged poultry and killed at least 138 people elsewhere in the world.

It will take up to two weeks to confirm whether the seemingly healthy wild mute swans in Michigan really harbored the H5N1 virus or not.

On Monday, the Agriculture Department declared that initial testing had ruled out the so-called highly pathogenic version of H5N1, but that they could have a relatively harmless, low-grade H5N1 strain instead.

“This is not the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that has spread through much of other parts of the world,” said Ron DeHaven, administrator of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, adding, “We do not believe this virus represents a risk to human health.”