Avian Influenza (H5N1) Outbreak among Wild Birds, Russia, 2009.

The article describes an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus (H5N1) infection in wild birds in Mongolia and on Uvs-Nuur Lake in western Siberia, Russia. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed the presence of type A influenza RNA and the H5 subtype in 10 dead birds belonging to four species, including great crested grebe and spoonbill. The virus may have been brought by the wild birds to Uvs-Nuur Lake from outside the country instead of coming from domestic poultry.