He says that the H11 virus may have an increased ability to infect humans, but the virus also may have been spotted now due to better detection techniques.
"There are numerous strains of influenza circulating in birds, and it is possible more such strains may be detected in future," Gill said.
While the animals themselves may not get sick, people in close proximity to wild birds could be at risk, he adds.
"Wildlife frequently carries potential human pathogens," Gill said. "This study demonstrates that the handling of wild waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, is a risk factor to human health."
But he notes that such infections can be prevented.
"Humans [should] wear gloves when handling wild animals and then wash or thoroughly clean their hands afterwards. They should also avoid smoking or eating while handling wild animals."
Circumstantial Evidence?
Robert Atmar, an infectious disease physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, says he thinks there are several problems with Gill's study.
"This is an interesting paper, but there isn't enough information to draw any firm conclusions," he said.
"For starters, the study fails to explain the specificity of the [test]. The presence of antibodies could mean there was an infection, or it could be a false positive. There is no way of knowing."
Atmar also suggests that the study might have been more accurate if the researchers had included subjects who had had no exposure to birds.
"The lack of a control group makes it difficult to say anything. The findings are intriguing but largely circumstantial," he said.
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