Avian Influenza Infects American Waterfowl

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today reported 87 additional highly pathogenic H5 or H5N1 avian flu detections in hunter-harvested birds on the East Coast of the U.S.

The detections of this strain of Eurasian H5 avian influenza in wild birds serve as an early warning system for bird owners in the U.S. to review and stay vigilant about their biosecurity practices to protect poultry and pet birds from avian influenza, stated the USDA website on February 7, 2022.

To review which areas on the East Coast these birds were identified, use this search box to sort by County, State, Date, etc.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from flock-to-flock.

But low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus strains occur naturally in wild migratory waterfowl and shorebirds without causing illness.

LPAI can infect domestic poultry, creating little or no signs of illness.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works closely with States and the poultry industry to prevent AI from becoming established in the U.S. poultry population.

APHIS collects and tests extensive samples from wild birds in the North American flyways through its ongoing wild bird surveillance program.

It is not uncommon to detect avian influenza in wild birds. These avian viruses circulate freely in birds with appearing infectious or sick.

AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9).

Avian influenza is also a serious health risk to humans.

As of October 2021, of the 51 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with influenza A(H5N6) virus reported to the WHO since 2014, about 50% (25) of the infections resulted in death.

For additional avian influenza news, visit this Precision Vaccinations webpage.