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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turkeys at a farm in Virginia had antibodies
to a low-risk strain of bird flu but direct evidence of infection has
not been found, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday.

None of the birds became ill but 54,000 were being slaughtered as a
precaution, said Dr. John Clifford of USDA's National Veterinary
Services Laboratories.

The turkeys had antibodies to a low pathogenic form of the H5N1
avian influenza virus, Clifford said. This strain of H5N1 does not
usually make birds ill, although it could potentially change into a
more dangerous form if allowed to spread.

"Every indication is that the virus detected is consistent with the
North American strain of low pathogenic H5N1, which is not a human
health concern," Clifford said in a statement.

"The turkeys showed no signs of illness, and there was no mortality.
Thus far, there is no evidence the virus is actually present in the
samples collected. The testing detected only antibodies, which indicate
possible past exposure to the virus."

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http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN1128361120070712