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GPS Deployed in War Against Bird Flu

Anne Chaon, AFP

Oct. 3, 2006 — As wild birds ready to take to the skies for their winter migration, birds from space will be monitoring their movements in order to help scientists fight the spread of H5N1 — the deadly strain of avian flu virus.

By using GPS navigation technology, international teams of scientists plan to follow the movements of migrating birds to better understand the extent of their role in transmitting the virus. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the plan following a conference in Rome in May, where experts convened to address the problem.

“We believe that at some levels, wild birds may be contributing to the spread of avian influenza across borders and even across continents in some cases,” said Scott Newman, spokesperson for the Wildlife Conservation Society.

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