We hear a lot about Avian Influenza, or H5N1, and the price of eggs in the news recently. That got me thinking, should we be worried about bird flu here in the Keys? As it turns out, we should.
Although Florida Fish and Wildlife has not reported cases of Avian Influenza H5N1 here in the Keys as of 11/24, all of our northern neighbors have impacts with many cases reported.
What is bird flu?
This H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus affects not just poultry but a wide variety of wild birds, including hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, crows, vultures, shorebirds, game birds, seabirds, including the great egret and snowy egret.
The virus is shed in infected birds’ saliva, mucus, and feces and transmitted to other birds via ingestion or inhalation. The virus can cause severe illness and death in birds, but also it has been found in a wide variety of mammals. The virus was even found in a bottle-nose dolphin, cows and domestic cats. These mammal infections can happen when exposed to feces or an infected dead bird.
How Does Bird Flu Spread?
Just like flu in humans, bird flu spreads through contact with infected birds, contaminated equipment, droppings, or secretions. It can also spread through the air or by humans carrying the virus on their clothes or tools. Many wild birds are common carriers. This is important because over 100 species of birds fly over the Florida Keys every spring and fall as the last U.S. stop in the Atlantic Flyway. Migrating birds use the island chain to take a break and recuperate before continuing their journey. Wild birds can represent a significant factor in influenza viruses due to their migration patterns, allowing viruses to spread quickly over large geographic regions.
What should we be doing?
The scientific community has a few recommendations. One of the first things to do is to limit interaction between domestic poultry, birds, or cats with wild bird populations. Interestingly, the National Wildlife Disease Program does not recommend taking down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry. The reason is that small birds like songbirds shed less virus and are much less susceptible. They do suggest putting these out of a line of sight for wild birds and cleaning them often. If you have a backyard poultry flock, make their food and water inaccessible to wild birds. Keep poultry indoors or otherwise physically separated from wild birds, if possible. Additionally, change your clothes and wash your hands before and after tending to them.
What to watch for.
Another thing we can do is to learn the signs and symptoms of bird flu or H5N1. Any wild or backyard bird exhibiting signs of sickness should be reported for testing, as testing is the only way to determine whether the bird has been infected. Bird flu in chickens and wild birds can cause symptoms such as:
• Sudden death: Birds may die suddenly without any prior symptoms.
• Respiratory distress: Birds may gasp for air, cough, sneeze, or have nasal discharge.
• Swollen head and face: Birds may have swollen eyelids, combs, wattles, and shanks.
• Blue or purple discoloration: Birds may have blue or purple discoloration of their combs, wattles, and legs.
• Neurological signs: Birds may twist their necks, circle, or stumble.
• Diarrhea: Birds may have diarrhea.
• Reduced egg production: Birds may produce fewer eggs, or their eggs may be soft-shelled or misshapen.
• Lack of energy: Birds may have low energy or appetite.
What should you do if you suspect avian influenza?
If you see a dead chicken, do not touch it or try to investigate yourself. Instead, report it to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Dead wildlife, including migratory birds, can be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
• Report any suspected cases of H5N1 in domestic poultry to FDACS by calling (850) 410-0900 (during office hours) or 1-800-342-5869 (after hours), or by emailing RAD@FDACS.gov.
• Dead wild bird sightings should be reported on the FWC website.
• Do not handle sick or dead birds yourself.
We have an average of 10,000 birds an hour nightly during migration across the Florida Keys; we must watch for impacts on the wild bird population and our local chickens.
More resources can be found at these links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Animals/Animal-Diseases/Avian-Influenza
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/current-bird-flu-situation-in-poultry.html
https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/health/avian/influenza/
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