Recent outbreaks of the avian flu in Asia will not affect the Thanksgiving turkey supply.

"Turkeys in the United States are not directly affected," Mike Hulet, associate professor of poultry science, said. Poultry Science Club President Gina Lehman said H5N1, the strain of the virus that has killed more than 60 people in Asia but has not been discovered in the United States, should not affect the supply because biosecurity at all poultry farms, especially turkey farms, is strong.

Hulet said there are more than 200 varieties of the avian flu. Sherrie Rosenblatt of the National Turkey Federation said turkeys are not imported in the United States, they're raised domestically.

Penn State's Animal Diagnostic Laboratory has several veterinarians working on the avian flu, Hulet said. Hulet recommended that people worried about other poultry-borne illnesses cook the bird thoroughly and wash the countertop afterward with warm water to reduce the chance illness.

-- Compiled by Kathryn DeVan