An Important Update — About Avian Influenza in 2024
By Dr. Susan Tyson & Ashlan Petrillo
Edited by Katie Czekaj
You may have heard talk of “bird flu,” “H5N1” or “avian influenza” in the past. Unfortunately, this virus is still active and affecting not only wild birds, but also livestock, wild mammals, and domestic cats and dogs. Your pets and backyard flocks may be at risk. But what is this disease, and how can its spread be prevented?
Avian Influenza is a virus caused by influenza type A virus. The severity of this virus will depend on the species infected. It spreads through direct bird-to-bird contact, or by an animal coming into contact with contaminated surfaces or respiratory droplets. It can move in manure, egg crates, and even on clothing and shoes.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is deadly to poultry and is easily transmitted through wild birds. It can wipe out an entire flock of poultry in a matter of days. Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI) can cause little to no symptoms in wild birds, but if transmitted to poultry, it can also become deadly.
Wild birds can be carriers without displaying any symptoms of the virus. It can also cause infection in private bird collections of psittaciformes (parrots), columbiformes (pigeons and doves) and anseriformes (waterfowl).
Despite being termed Avian Influenza, there has been recent detection of HPAI in cattle in the US, as well as a limited number of dairy and poultry workers, the circumstances of which are currently being investigated. It has also been previously detected in other mammals such as cats, dogs, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, etc. One sample from a human infected with HPAI in Chile in 2023 was even shown to infect ferrets via eye exposure.
Symptoms of HPAI in birds can include:
● Conjunctivitis, Chemosis (infection via the eyes)
● Sudden death without any prior symptoms of illness
● Lack of energy and appetite
● A drop in egg production or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs
● Swelling of the eyelids, comb, wattles, and shanks
● Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
● Gasping for air (difficulty breathing)
● Nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing
● Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)
● Stumbling or falling down
● Diarrhea
Therefore, it is important to take precautions for yourself and your pets. Avoid direct contact with wild birds, living or dead, including waterfowl, especially if they appear sick or the cause of death is unknown. If you must be in an area where feces may be present, it is recommended to wear disposable boot covers. Be especially cautious to wear clean clothes, including shoes, when interacting with pet poultry. It is recommended to use Rescue brand disinfectant, chlorine bleach, household ammonia, or Lysol concentrate to clean any potentially contaminated surfaces. It is imperative that wild birds and rodents be kept away from poultry or domestic birds. During an outbreak, it is not advisable to put any bird feeders out as this is a hub for disease to be spread among wild birds. Do not keep domestic birds outside. Keep cats indoors or under your supervision when outdoors. If you do have a suspected case of HPAI in your flock, be sure to report it to the USDA to help manage the outbreak.
Source: USDA.gov, CDC.gov, & US Fish and Wildlife Services