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Global health authorities say that there is currently no bird flu in the Western Hemisphere and the most likely way
for it to enter the United States would be through birds smuggled in as pets or for cockfighting, or else from
migratory birds, particularly ducks and geese. Nearly every chicken consumed in the US is raised here. Commercially
bred chickens, including many "free range" birds, are raised inside giant airplane-hangar sized complexes and
almost never see the light of day. Outdoor-raised chickens are usually kept away from wild birds with netting. The birds
that are most at risk are unconfined birds and home raised birds, which may mingle with wild or migratory birds that
carry the disease.
Almost all US chicken farmers have joined a program to test chicken flocks for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, which has already killed millions of birds in Asia and 76 humans. The producers who have joined the USDA's program - under which chickens from every flock will be tested approximately two weeks before slaughter - account for 90% of the US chicken production. Should an infection be detected, the flock will be destroyed and all flocks in a two mile radius will be held for further testing. State and national officials strongly recommend that even privately raised birds be brought in for testing on a regular basis.
