I would strongly recommend you do not take your birds anywhere public other than the vet. Do not take your birds for walks anywhere near waterfowl, chickens, ducks, or turkeys. If you see a sick bird outside, best not to handle it in case it has HPAI. Make sure you wash your hands after coming in from outside and consider setting up a foot bath, especially if you are anywhere near waterfowl, chickens, ducks, or turkeys.
From the DEEP today:
- The strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus that has been detected across the eastern US was detected in live, wild Mallards in Connecticut in mid-February.
- While it is circulating mostly in waterfowl species, black vultures, bald eagles, terns, gulls and other species have also tested positive and many birds have tested positive in states along the east coast.
- This strain has the high potential to cause mortality events in commercial and backyard poultry. Mortality in wild birds is relatively rare at this time. Appropriate biosecurity measures should be taken to prevent transmission between birds. All sick birds must be quarantined and kept isolated from any other birds in your care.
Please assist us by reporting to the following people any mortality events in waterfowl, raptors and other avian scavengers where birds are exhibiting
neurological impairment or found dead, especially near facilities housing domestic birds to:
Min.Huang@ct.gov,
Brian.Hess@ct.gov and
Laurie.Fortin@ct.gov
And please report on the dead bird reporting webpage: http://www.cfwwildbirdmortalityreporting.ct.gov/
We are particularly interested in:
- Mortality events involving waterfowl (ducks, geese, or swans) or other water birds (loons, grebes, coots, shorebirds, or wading birds such as egrets, herons, or cranes) where neurologic symptoms were reported.
- Mortality events involving raptors, ravens, crows and gulls or individuals of these species exhibiting neurological impairment.
Avian Influenza viruses are very contagious among birds. These viruses don't always kill or cause illness in their host (ex. waterfowl), however, they can sicken and kill domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks and turkeys and in rare cases, infect other hosts like humans, pigs and horses. Infected birds shed virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Fresh feces and nasal secretions at any temperature are highly infectious. Birds can transmit virus through direct contact with one another and/or these viruses can be picked up in the environment. The viruses can live for long periods in water (potentially up to 200 days) and large amounts of virus is shed in the water by infected birds for a period that could last up to four weeks; as a result, contact with a contaminated aquatic environment can easily result in many infections. These viruses tend to persist in water environments for longer periods when at lower temperatures.
Always make sure to:
* Wear protective clothing including aprons, coveralls, rubber boots, rubber or latex gloves, eye protection, and face shields that can be disinfected or discarded to prevent skin and mucous membrane contact with biological materials and movement of biological materials between sites if you are rescuing birds that may be exhibiting neurological symptoms or in cases involving multiple mortalities.
* Work in well-ventilated areas or upwind of birds to decrease the risk of inhaling airborne particulate matter such as dust, feathers, or dander.
* Wear a particulate respirator (NIOSH N95 respirator/mask or better) when working in confined spaces.
* Wash hands often and thoroughly for at least 30 seconds with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
* Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking while handling sick or dying birds.
* Decontaminate work areas and take appropriate measures to prevent inadvertent movement of infectious material to other locations.
As always, wild birds and domestic birds should never be housed together or in close proximity to one another. If you have domestic ducks, geese, chickens or gamebirds you should avoid taking in any sick or dying birds from the wild.
Domestic birds may show the following symptoms:
- Sudden death without clinical signs
- Lack of energy and appetite
- Decreased egg production and/or soft or misshapen eggs
- Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks
- Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs and legs
- Nasal coloration, coughing, sneezing
- Incoordination
- Diarrhea
Call the state veterinarian at 860-713-2505 or USDA Veterinary Services at 1-866-536-7593 to report sick and dead birds. Assistance is available at no charge.
DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE AND DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM DOING SO
Feeding waterfowl will result in congregating birds and in unsanitary conditions. Large quantities of highly pathogenic H5N1 virus can be excreted by birds that look healthy, thereby, infecting birds at the same location.
CDC states that '
while the health risk posed to the general public by domestic HPAI outbreaks is low, it is possible that human infections with these viruses could occur.' Therefore, it is important to take added precautions while responding to sick and dying bird cases. Additional information on safe work practices for working with wildlife is
available from USGS.
Laurie Fortin
Wildlife Biologist
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
