Published on: March 26, 2024
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), generally often called ‘bird flu’ was first discovered on Cape Cod at first of February 2022, a bit greater than two years in the past. While the illness does NOT pose an instantaneous well being menace to individuals, it does unfold simply amongst wild and home birds, together with poultry.
Here’s what you must know.
What is Bird Flu?
Bird Flu is a illness brought on by sure Type A flu viruses that normally spreads between birds, NOT individuals. Some of those viruses may cause critical sickness and demise in home poultry together with hen, geese, and turkeys. Avian influenza A viruses have been remoted from greater than 100 totally different species of untamed birds all over the world. These viruses happen naturally amongst wild aquatic birds and shorebirds (geese, geese, swans, gulls, terns, storks, plovers, and sandpipers) worldwide and may infect home poultry and different chicken and animal species.
Wild birds might be contaminated with avian flu viruses with out getting sick. However, they’ll shed avian influenza viruses of their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible domesticated birds change into contaminated after they have contact with the virus as it’s shed by contaminated birds.
Can individuals get chicken flu?
People hardly ever get chicken flu, however after they do, it’s most frequently by means of extended unprotected contact (failure to make use of gloves, eye safety, or a facemask/respirator) with contaminated birds. People can change into contaminated by respiration the virus in droplets within the air or probably mud, or by touching surfaces contaminated with contaminated chicken mucous, saliva, or feces after which touching their eyes, nostril, or mouth. Most chicken flu infections in individuals have occurred after shut, extended, unprotected contact with contaminated birds or contaminated surfaces. No human chicken flu infections have been reported from correct dealing with of poultry meat or from consuming properly cooked poultry or poultry products.
Overall, the danger to the general public from chicken flu outbreaks is low; nonetheless, as a result of chicken flu viruses have been recognized to contaminate individuals sporadically (once more, individuals who have been recognized to have prologued, unprotected publicity to contaminated birds), it’s attainable that human infections with these viruses may happen. It is essential to notice there was no recognized human-to-human unfold of chicken flu.
CDC Infographic: How Infected Backyard Poultry Could Spread Bird Flu to People
I’ve a yard poultry flock. Should I be involved about chicken flu? What are signs to look at for?
You must be vigilant about defending your flock, and/or any home avian pets, from chicken flu.
Bird flu can have an effect on wild or domesticated birds. Most poultry, together with chickens, turkeys, guinea
fowl, and recreation birds like pheasants will die inside days of publicity; wild and home geese
and another species might be contaminated with out ever showing sick. Domestic poultry are uncovered to chicken flu by means of contact with contaminated birds, their droppings, or feathers. Pastures, yards, ponds, and
gear simply change into contaminated with the virus. Humans can expose home birds to an infection by means of use of contaminated gear, clothes and footwear, and automobile tires.
Infected poultry, and probably pet birds, could present a number of of the next indicators:
- Sudden demise with no prior indicators
- Low power or urge for food
- Purple discoloration or swelling of varied physique elements
- Reduced egg manufacturing, or soft-shelled/misshapen eggs
- Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing
- Lack of coordination
- Diarrhea
If you develop any of those indicators or signs throughout the 10-days after your publicity to an contaminated or probably contaminated animal, name the MA Dept. of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at (617) 983-6800. The on-call epidemiologist is available throughout regular business hours for emergencies and to reply questions relating to case investigation and implementation of management measures. If testing is really useful, isolate as a lot as attainable till check outcomes come again and/or you’ve gotten recovered out of your sickness.
Mass.gov Infographic: Protecting your Backyard Flock
Information from the American Veterinary Medical Association: Avian Influenza in Pets and Backyard Flocks
How do I report sick or useless poultry in my flock?
Immediately name the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Animal Health Division at (617) 626-1795. You may submit the next poultry illness reporting kind on-line: Poultry Disease Reporting Form | Mass.gov.
My pet discovered a useless chicken and carried it of their mouth. Could they change into contaminated with chicken flu? Could they infect me or my household?
Although chicken flu viruses primarily infect and unfold amongst wild migratory water birds and home poultry, some chicken flu viruses can infect and unfold to different animals as properly. Bird flu viruses have previously been recognized to typically infect mammals that eat (presumably contaminated) birds or poultry, together with however not restricted to wild animals, corresponding to seals, bears, foxes, skunks; farmed mink; stray or home animals, corresponding to cats and dogs; and zoo animals, corresponding to tigers and leopards.
If your home animals (e.g., cats or dogs) go exterior and will probably eat or be uncovered to sick or useless birds contaminated with chicken flu viruses, or an setting contaminated with chicken flu virus, they may change into contaminated with chicken flu. While it’s unlikely that you’d get sick with chicken flu by means of direct contact along with your contaminated pet, it’s attainable.
For extra data go to: Bird Flu in Pets and Other Animals | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
What ought to I do if I believe I could have been uncovered to chicken flu? What are the indicators and signs of chicken flu in people?
People who’ve had direct contact with contaminated or probably contaminated animals, together with sick animals which may have eaten chicken flu-infected birds, ought to monitor their well being for fever and signs of an infection.
Signs and Symptoms could embrace:
- Fever (Temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or higher) or feeling feverish/chills*
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Difficulty respiration/Shortness of breath
- Conjunctivitis (eye tearing, redness, irritation, or discharge from eye)
- Headaches
- Runny or stuffy nostril
- Muscle or physique aches
- Diarrhea
*Fever could not all the time be current.
If you develop any of those indicators or signs throughout the 10-days after your publicity to an contaminated or probably contaminated animal, name the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences Division of Epidemiology at (617) 983-6800. The on-call epidemiologist is available throughout regular business hours for emergencies and to reply questions relating to case investigation and implementation of management measures. Discuss your potential publicity and ask about testing. If testing is really useful, isolate as a lot as attainable till check outcomes come again and/or you’ve gotten recovered out of your sickness.
I discovered a SICK/INJURED wild chicken on Cape Cod. Who ought to I contact?
Cape Wildlife Center is a veterinary hospital in Barnstable that gives rehabilitative care to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. Call for instant help and wildlife emergencies: (508) 362-0111. Admissions hours are between 10:00 AM and three:00 PM every day. Afterhours emergency line: (617) 835-6845.
Wild Care, Inc. is a wildlife rehabilitation heart in Eastham that treats injured, in poor health, and orphaned wildlife for launch: If you discover an animal in misery, name: (508) 240-2255. Wild Care, Inc. is open every day from 9:00 AM to five:00 PM
I discovered a DEAD wild chicken on Cape Cod. Who ought to I contact?
MassWildlife is accumulating data on wild birds to observe attainable outbreaks of Avian Influenza. They are significantly concerned about sick/useless seabirds washing up alongside coastal areas. Please click on the next hyperlink to finish a web-based kind and embrace a photograph if attainable: Report observations of dead wild birds | Mass.gov.
PLEASE NOTE: An individual useless wild chicken doesn’t typically require testing or elimination. However, elimination/disposal of useless birds from the setting is an efficient apply to assist cut back environmental contamination and potential publicity to different birds and mammals. No single entity is accountable for the elimination/disposal of useless birds; it’s depending on the municipality and the landowner.
For details about safely get rid of a useless chicken or animal, please go to: Found a Dead Wild Bird? Here’s What To Do Next (usda.gov).
Key Takeaways
- While chicken flu does NOT pose an instantaneous well being menace to individuals, it does unfold simply amongst wild and home birds, together with poultry.
- Overall, the danger to the general public from chicken flu outbreaks is low; nonetheless, chicken flu viruses have been recognized to contaminate individuals sporadically following shut, extended, unprotected contact with contaminated birds or contaminated surfaces.
- No human chicken flu infections have been reported from correct dealing with of poultry meat or from consuming properly cooked poultry or poultry products.
- Backyard poultry CAN change into contaminated with chicken flu by means of publicity to contaminated wild animals or surfaces contaminated by contaminated wild animals. If you think considered one of your birds has chicken flu or has died from turning into contaminated with chicken flu, instantly name the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Animal Health Division at (617) 626-1795.
- Keep your pets away from useless birds and animals to stop publicity.
- Never deal with a useless chicken or animal with our taking appropriate precautions.
Additional Resources and Information
Avian Influenza, March 2024 | Mass.gov
Information on Bird Flu | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
Avian Influenza in Birds | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
Bird Flu Virus Infections in Humans | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
Prevention and Antiviral Treatment of Bird Flu Viruses in People | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
Department of Homeland Security | Ask the Expert: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Viruses
Infographics
Emergence and Evolution of H5N1 Bird Flu
Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources | Biosecurity: Protecting Your Backyard Flock
