Bird Flu Resource Center

Migrating wildlife birds infected with the H5N1 flu will probably make their appearance in Alaska in the spring of 2006. If infected birds eventually make their way to Indiana they will pose a risk to outdoor Indiana-grown chickens and turkeys. Migrating birds with the bird flu will infect some of the wild turkeys, ducks, geese, and other water fowl that nest in Indiana. It appears that many mammals may become infected through the ingestion of dead infected birds. They will also create a risk to pets and humans in Indiana that come into contact with living and dead birds infected with the H5N1 virus.

There is also a risk that the H5N1 influenza now spreading by migrating birds worldwide can mutate into a form of virus that might easily spread disease from person to person. This has not happened yet. If it does, the bird flu could spread very quickly within weeks into a worldwide pandemic involving great risk to humans here in LaPorte County and everywhere on earth. The spread of the bird flu now occurring worldwide among birds and animals increases the chance the virus will mutate into a form deadly to humans. There is a global international effort to try to slow the spread of the H5N1 virus carried by birds.

It is best that people, businesses, governments and organizations in LaPorte County and the State of Indiana be informed with accurate information about the risks, the spread of bird flu worldwide and ways to prepare in the event the virus mutates to a form easily transferring disease from person to person causing a worldwide pandemic. The bird flu, mostly among birds, is now in Asia, Europe and Africa. These continents are a long way from Indiana, but migrating birds may bring the bird flu here this year.

Everyone should begin to understand about bird flu, what it can mean to you, and how to prepare. The LaPorte County Bird Flu Resource Center is a source of up-to-date information about the avian flu. On this website we provide links to authoritative state, national and international sources of news, information, medical and scientific expertise about the avian flu. We invite organizations throughout LaPorte County to link to this site so their employees and clients can become informed about this coming public health risk. Please tell your family, friends and co-workers about this source of information.

Dr. Charles Janovsky, Health Officer
Paul E.Trost, Administrator
Joanne Hardacker, R.N., Nursing Supervisor
Ken Johnston, Public Health Coordinator

LaPorte County Health Department
LaPorte, Indiana