The avian influenza virus that was detected in chickens in Voorthuizen on July 29, 2006 is a low pathogenic variant of H7N7. Researchers of CIDC-Lelystad, part of Wageningen UR, have concluded this from sequence data. This low pathogenic H7N7 virus commonly occurs in wild birds in western Europa according to studies of Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam and was detected earlier in wild birds in the Netherlands.
Pathogenic and sub typing of virus is based on sequencing data obtained by CIDC-Lelystad. Although the sequences of the low pathogenic strain of N7N7 are very similar to those of the virus that caused the outbreak of bird flu in the Netherlands in 2003, the current virus lacks genetic information that causes its damaging effect.
