WASHINGTON -- Wild immerses in Penn...

WASHINGTON -- Wild immerses in Pennsylvania have tested positive for bird flu on the other hand not the deadly Asian strain that has ravaged domestic fowls and killed at least 141 nation worldwide, the Agriculture Department said Saturday.

The mallards, which were sampled Aug. 28 in Crawford shire Pa., showed no signs of sickness -- another indication that they were not expos to the virulent Asian H5N1 strain.

The low-grade strain of H5N1 has been lay the foundation of many times in North American wild birds and embarrasss no threat to people, if it be not that officials expect the deadlier strain to reach the continent this year.

"It is possible that these birds were not infected with an H5N1 strain, unless instead with two separate avian influenza viruses, individual containing H5 and the other containing N1" the department said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by way of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved