Bird Flu Confirmed In PA, Virus Detected In Wild Bald Eagle Found Dead

[mr.d]

Bird flu confirmed in PA, virus detected in wild bald eagle found dead, officials say

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by WJAC Staff

Saturday, March 26th 2022

Bald eagle (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

 

Officials say the latest bird flu has made its way to Pennsylvania.

The state game commission made the announcement Friday.

They say the bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, was detected in a wild bald eagle found dead in East Marlborough Township, Chester County.

They say this marks the first detection of HPAI H5N1 in birds within the sate since the virus was first identified in North America in December 2021.

Officials add that they’re waiting for lab test results from five wild hooded mergansers with suspected HPAI recovered from Kahle Lake on the Clarion and Venango county line.

Four of the birds were found dead and they say the fifth was euthanized after showing neurologic signs.

The game commission says, so far, the avian flu has impacted birds in more than 20 states.

They add that they’re working with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System to monitor the virus.

Any further cases will be reported by the USDA on its website.

Experts say waterfowl and shorebirds are natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses.

Infected birds may spread the virus through their feces and saliva even if they seem healthy.

The virus can lead to sickness and death in wild poultry (turkey, grouse) raptors (hawks, eagles), avian scavengers (crows, gulls, ravens), and other species (ducks, geese).

Signs of infection often include neurologic dysfunction such as circling and difficulty flying.

HPAI is particularly contagious and lethal to domestic poultry, experts say, and can significantly impact the commercial poultry industry.

While the avian flu can infect humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the current outbreak is primarily an animal health issue and no cases have been detected in humans in the United States.

No Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses had been detected in Pennsylvania since the 1983-84 outbreak, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

[Petee]

Keep your own home flocks separated from wild birds also.  While it's inconvenient, you don't want to have to destroy all of your laying hens because one of them dies after a visit by a wild bird.  It's not forever, but till the wild birds stop dying from it, it would be a safe precaution.  The wire that protects them must be smaller that 1x1 or bird netting works best.  It's your call!