Low-risk bird flu at Virgina turkey farm but not spreading: USDA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Laboratory tests confirmed a strain of low-risk bird flu at a turkey farm in Virginia but there is no evidence of it spreading, the U.S. Agriculture Department's chief veterinarian said on Tuesday.

Chief Veterinarian John Clifford said tests at USDA's disease lab in Ames, Iowa, showed the birds had been exposed to the North American strain of H5N1 virus "and is compatible with low pathogenic avian influenza."

Low-risk bird flu "is not a human health concern," said Clifford.

As a precaution, the 54,000 turkeys on the farm were killed.

"Surveillance is still being conducted within the area surrounding the infected area and thus far all tests have been negative," said Clifford in a statement.

The turkey farmer was compensated for the loss of the fowl.

The case was reported by USDA on July 11.