Manhattan ? A Kansas State University researcher says a strain of avian influenza found in Kansas is no threat to humans.

Associate professor Scott Beyer says the H5N2 strain is extremely deadly in birds but has never been known to transmit to poultry products or humans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has traced H5N2 in Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Arkansas.

A flock of chickens and duck were killed Saturday in Leavenworth County after they were found to have the virus. The state is asking Leavenworth County residents with backyard poultry flocks to report them for monitoring.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Beyer believes the new strain is being spread through migration.

He recommends poultry farmers set up a perimeter to protect their birds from transmission from other birds and dogs.