The highly pathogenic avian flu is currently affecting several wild birds in the region. In Fort Lauderdale, veterinarians at the South Florida Wildlife Center (SFWC) hospital are taking extra precautions to protect feathered patients and staff.
Viral infection is naturally transmitted between birds. Several cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in wild birds have recently been reported along the eastern seaboard from New Hampshire to Florida.
This epidemic is currently affecting several species of migratory birds listed as far away as Palm Beach. Veterinarian Antonia Gardner, medical director of the SFWC in Fort Lauderdale, adds that “this flu, also known as avian influenza, is a potential risk for all types of birds, including domesticated birds.”
In a related development, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health reported the fourth outbreak in the outbreak of the same virus that hit turkey farms. On February 19, another farm had to cull its production of 15,400 poultry.
Scope
Since the beginning of the year, the CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) has identified the Eurasian H5N1 strain in waterfowl in several states on the American east coast. Similar events have been reported in poultry and wild birds in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The same virus has fueled outbreaks in other parts of the world, leading to significant poultry losses, particularly in Europe.
In the United States, the last outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry occurred in 2020. It involved the H7N3 strain, which was part of activity linked to another form of the virus that hit turkey farms in North and South Carolina.
In 2016, the state of Indiana reported an outbreak of bird flu when 11 farms were hit with H7N8. The sad event resulted in the loss of 400,000 poultry.
Between December 2014 and June 2015, an epidemic hit 21 US states and caused the loss of more than 50 million farmed chickens and turkeys.
Transmission to humans
Health officials have said there is a low risk of transmission to mammals and there have been no known human infections in North America. The last time avian influenza was reported in humans was on January 9, 2017. It was in China where their National Health Commission notified the WHO that 106 cases of H7N9 had occurred among villagers in an isolated area. In all, 35 deaths and two potential cases of human-to-human transmission. Eighty of the 106 infected people had visited infected live poultry markets.
Rules to follow
For now, bird flu that has reached wild birds in Florida is being closely monitored. “Admission, triage and quarantine protocols have been put in place,” Dr. Gardner said.
Wildlife officials are asking people to notify them if they find dead birds so that they can be collected to conduct the appropriate tests and monitor the progress of the infection. Prevention includes preventing contact between wild birds and domestic or captive birds and avoiding handling wild animals.
To report dead birds, contact the South Florida Wildlife Center:
(954) 524-4302