One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

So what if I used a Jack Nicholson movie title? Moving on...

On Monday, leaders of three federal agencies predicted that at some point this year the Bird Flu will arrive right here in the states. As USA Today reports, "The highly pathogenic H5N1 has spread across Asia, Europe and parts of Africa. It is contagious and deadly to poultry and many species of wild birds, and it has infected at least 177 people, killing 98. The virus can't spread easily in humans, but scientists warn it could mutate into a form that is contagious among people, causing a pandemic. " Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton has said that a program will be set up to test up to 100,000 wild birds for signs of the illness this year and that the program will focus on breeding grounds in Alaska and also in islands in the Pacific where migrating birds from Asia are now heading. Also, the FDA has banned the use of Tamiflu and other human anti-flu drugs on poultry. Experts think that if the drugs are used on poultry then eventually the infection will become immune.

Bird Flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. Infection with bird flu viruses in domestic poultry causes two main forms of disease. The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and usually causes only mild symptoms, such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production. However, the "highly pathogenic" form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. This form kills in about 48 hours.