March 9, 2006
CNN.com

Chertoff: Bird flu possible in U.S. within months

Migratory birds could carry the avian flu virus to U.S. shores in the next few months, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff warned Thursday. Chertoff attempted to reassure the public by saying the federal government has experience in dealing with such outbreaks. "I can't predict, but I certainly have to say that we should be prepared for the possibility that at some point in the next few months, a wild fowl will come over the migratory pathway and will be infected with H5N1," he said.