Ecoregional Dominance in Spatial Distribution of Avian Infl uenza ( H 5 N 1 ) Outbreaks

Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 13, No. 8, August 2007 1269 When all identifi ed strains of M. cosmeticum are considered, this species is clearly present in diverse geographic regions and in healthcare institutions. These fi ndings suggest that it may be widely distributed in the environment and should be regarded, along with other rapidly growing mycobacteria species, as a potential pathogen.