[WASHINGTON, DC] – This afternoon the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior announced that a wild, migratory bird in the Rice Lake Conservation Area of Fulton County, Illinois, showed evidence of an avian virus. According to the medical experts, the bird is not carrying what biologists refer to as the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain that is considered the most likely source of a possible pandemic flu outbreak. The bird is not sick, and does not pose any threat to public health.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement:

“Although no one wants to hear that birds in the United States have any type of avian virus, I have been assured by public officials that these are low level, run of the mill flu patterns in wild birds. We should not be alarmed. My office has spoken with the U.S. Center of Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) about the potential threat to public health for Illinoisans and I’ve been assured that there is no immediate threat to humans or to other animals. The CDC is in direct contact with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, monitoring this and other routine testing of birds.”