RANDOM TESTING DONE LAST YEAR ON THE STATE'S WILD BIRD POPULATIONS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF THE H5N1 STRAIN OF AVIAN INFLUENZA THAT HAS JUMPED FROM BIRDS TO HUMANS.

THE NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION SAYS TESTS WERE CONDUCTED ON 1,500 WILD BIRDS AND 704 FECAL SAMPLES IN 2007. THE STATE BEGAN TESTING WILD BIRDS IN 2006.

AVIAN INFLUENZA HAS KILLED AT LEAST 216 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE SINCE IT BEGAN RAVAGING ASIAN POULTRY STOCKS IN LATE 2003. THE H5N1 STRAIN HAS NOT BEEN FOUND ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA.

EXPERTS FEAR THE H5N1 VIRUS COULD EVENTUALLY MUTATE INTO A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS FORM THAT SPREADS EASILY AMONG PEOPLE. THE CURRENT VIRUS REMAINS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO CATCH, AND MOST HUMAN CASES HAVE BEEN TRACED TO CONTACT WITH SICK BIRDS. http://www.kduhtv.com/viewStory.php?id=6279