News Chemistry

Tracking bird flu one poop at a time

Mice can sniff out duck droppings laced with virus

By Rachel Ehrenberg

- More than 2 years ago

BOSTON — Duck and goose droppings, the bane of golfers and park visitors, may help scientists track the spread of bird flu — with olfactory assistance from properly trained animals.

FLU FACTORY Ducks and geese can excrete large amounts of avian flu virus, so scientists have now trained mice — and hope to teach dogs — to sniff out infected bird poop.