美國雞肉處理人員將開始對他們所有的雞進行禽流感的監測，數量將比2005年期間翻一番。

美國國家雞肉委員會(Washington DC, USA)是一家協調資源檢測項目的貿易組織，該協會說生產該國超過90％雞的公司已經同意在每只雞宰殺之前，對樣本進行檢測。盡管大多數禽流感的毒株對人類無害，但是致命性H5N1毒株是高度傳染性的。科學家能夠對血液中進行抗體檢測以確定家禽的健康狀況。

這項監測主要是向美國國內國外的消費者保證，家禽沒有受到橫掃東歐和亞洲的H5N1毒株的影響。這項監測計劃是由于消費者近期開始要求供應商保證他們的雞肉沒有感染禽流感。

在2006年1月的早些時候，在亞洲H5N1病毒已經導致超過146人感染，其中76人死亡。僅僅在越南就有93例患者，其中42例死亡。大多數受害者都有與患病家禽的密切接觸史，但是衛生官員擔心病毒會獲得在人與人之間傳染的能力，從而導致大范圍流行。
 
U.S. Screens Poultry for Avian Flu
 
U.S. chicken processors are starting to screen all of their flocks for bird flu, more than doubling the number of tests conducted in the industry during 2005.

The United States National Chicken Council (Washington DC, USA), a trade group coordinating the voluntary testing program, said firms producing about 90% of the nation’s chickens have agreed to screen a sample of chickens from each flock before slaughter. Although most strains of avian flu are harmless to humans, the deadly H5N1 strain is highly contagious. Scientists can determine the health of a flock by conducting an antibody-based test on the blood of a dozen or so of its members.

The screening is designed to reassure consumers, domestic and foreign, that U.S. chickens are free of the H5N1 strain sweeping into Eastern Europe from Asia. The screening is due to the fact that customers recently began requiring suppliers to certify that their chickens are free of bird flu.

By early January 2006, the H5N1 strain had killed more than 146 people in Asia, of whom 76 died. Vietnam alone accounted for 93 cases and 42 deaths. Most of the victims had close contact with sick birds, but health officials worry the virus could acquire the ability to move easily among people, sparking a pandemic.