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January and February mark the start of the wild bird migratory season in North Carolina, a time when the risk for the spread of bird flu is increased. While the danger to the general public remains low, now is a good time to take proactive action to protect your backyard birds, pets, and yourself from this disease.
What is the bird flu?
The bird flu, also known as avian influenza or H5N1, is caused by the avian influenza A virus. Most cases are mild and are related to direct exposure to infected animals, like on farms. People rarely get bird flu, but when they do, it occurs when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or lungs.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of bird flu include cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, and shortness of breath. Red, irritated eyes are a signature symptom of the bird flu.
What is the current state of bird flu in Buncombe County?
A deceased waterfowl at Lake Julian Park has received a preliminary positive test result for Avian Influenza H5N1 or bird flu. Parks staff have identified a total of eight deceased waterfowl at the park; additional test results are pending, but there is currently no timeline to receive those results.
The park will remain open; park visitors should avoid touching or feeding waterfowl and wash their hands regularly. Buncombe County Parks and Public Health Staff are working with state partners including representatives from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Public Health, and Department of Agriculture on cleaning protocols at the park, monitoring and testing in the event of human exposure, and protocols for handing sick or deceased animals.
This is a good opportunity to remind everyone of steps you can take to protect yourself and your domestic animals from getting the bird flu.
Should I worry?
In North Carolina, there have been no confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in recent years, according to national dashboards from the USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In North Carolina, poultry and livestock producers are taking steps to prevent the spread of bird flu in their animal populations through the National Poultry Improvement Plan, which tracks biosecurity and disease prevention on farms.
While the risk remains low, you can take extra steps to ensure the disease does not spread.
General Public: Avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry or other animals. If you must have contact, wear personal protective equipment including gloves and masks. Don't touch surfaces with saliva, mucus, or feces from wild or domesticated birds or other animals. Do not touch or consume raw milk or milk products. Wash your hands frequently and stay up to date with your seasonal flu vaccine. Buncombe County Health and Human Services provides vaccines.
People with Backyard Flocks: If you can, keep your domestic birds away from migrating waterfowl and wild birds. Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, and other animals. If you do touch dead animals or surfaces touched by an animal with confirmed bird flu, use gloves and face masks. Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected bird flu.
Some poultry owners with larger flocks keep their birds in covered pens so wildfowl such as ducks don’t have access to them. Here are 10 more ways you can protect your flock.
Warning signs of bird flu in your domestic birds:
- Reduced energy, decreased appetite, and/or decreased activity
- Lower egg production and/or soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
- Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, and wattles
- Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
- Difficulty breathing, runny nares (nose), and/or sneezing
- Twisting of the head and neck, stumbling, falling down, tremors, and/or circling
- Greenish diarrhea
If your birds are sick or dying, report it right away. This is one of the most important things you can do to keep bird flu from spreading.
Contact:
- Your local veterinarian
- NC State Veterinary Office: 919-707-3250
- NC Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System (Western Laboratory): 828-684-8188
- USDA: 866-536-7593
Pet Owners: While the transfer of bird flu to pets including cats and dogs is not common, it can happen. It is highly recommended that you prevent pets from eating or carrying wild birds or other animal carcasses. Outdoor cats can capture infected backyard birds.
If your cat or dog has been outdoors and looks sick, seek veterinary advice as quickly as possible. If bird flu is detected, your veterinarian can provide antiviral medications that can be more effective if given to your pet early on.
Hunters: In North Carolina, wild turkey hunting season is in April. While human infections with bird flu are not common, hunters may be at higher risk when handling waterfowl or game birds during hunting seasons.
Hunters who may interact with birds should be cautious. The US Fish and Wildlife Service recommends that hunters should wear gloves and a mask to process harvested birds and do so in a well-ventilated area or outdoors. Hunters should also not allow their hunting dogs to eat wild birds.
While wild birds typically die from many causes with no cause for alarm, hunters who find significant numbers of dead wild birds, should report the finding to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission by calling the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or by emailing HWI@ncwildlife.org.
Do you have more questions about the bird flu? Click here to view FAQs from the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
If you are a livestock owner, visit the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services livestock website for guidance.