• Carrie Reed, Dana Bruden, Kathy K Byrd, Vic Veguilla, Michael Bruce, Debby Hurlburt, David Wang, Crystal Holiday, Kathy Hancock, Justin R Ortiz, Joe Klejka, Jacqueline M Katz, and Timothy M Uyeki.
• Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
• Influenza Other Respi Viruses. 2014 Sep 1; 8 (5): 516-23.

BackgroundHighly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 viruses have infected poultry and wild birds on three continents with more than 600 reported human cases (59% mortality) since 2003. Wild aquatic birds are the natural reservoir for avian influenza A viruses, and migratory birds have been documented with HPAI H5N1 virus infection. Since 2005, clade 2.2 HPAI H5N1 viruses have spread from Asia to many countries.ObjectivesWe conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiological survey in Anchorage and western Alaska to identify possible behaviors associated with migratory bird exposure and measure seropositivity to HPAI H5N1.MethodsWe enrolled rural subsistence bird hunters and their families, urban sport hunters, wildlife biologists, and a comparison group without bird contact. We interviewed participants regarding their exposures to wild birds and collected blood to perform serologic testing for antibodies against a clade 2.2 HPAI H5N1 virus strain.ResultsHunters and wildlife biologists reported exposures to wild migratory birds that may confer risk of infection with avian influenza A viruses, although none of the 916 participants had evidence of seropositivity to HPAI H5N1.ConclusionsWe characterized wild bird contact among Alaskans and behaviors that may influence risk of infection with avian influenza A viruses. Such knowledge can inform surveillance and risk communication surrounding HPAI H5N1 and other influenza viruses in a population with exposure to wild birds at a crossroads of intercontinental migratory flyways.© 2014 The Authors. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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