New research on migratory waterfowl is providing a first look into when commercial poultry facilities are at highest risk of avian influenza transmission.
Dr. Diann Prosser with the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center says wild birds like ducks are natural reservoirs of avian flu that can transmit the disease to high-density poultry farms.
“So what we were interested in doing is to try and learn more about the wild birds and how they’re moving on the landscape, and how and when they might be at the highest risk of being within reach of potential poultry facilities.”
She tells Brownfield they studied the blue-winged teal, a common carrier of avian flu that breeds in the north-central U.S.
