A third presumptive case of avian influenza has been confirmed in another duck – this time an endangered, native duck from a wildlife refuge on Kauai, according to state officials.

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a news release that preliminary testing by the State Laboratory showed the duck was infected with an influenza A virus. Confirmation of whether it is the deadly H5N1 subtype is pending from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Iowa.

State officials said the Hawaiian duck was found sick on Nov. 26 at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge in Kilauea. It died within 24 hours of being found.

”H5N1 is a highly infectious and often deadly subtype of influenza A that mainly affects birds,” said DLNR in the news release. “Human infections are rare

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