The Missouri Department of Conservation is investigating a bird flu outbreak.
The department’s Deb Hudman told Missourinet it is actively monitoring reports of sick and dead waterfowl and raptors across the state, including geese, ducks, hawks, and eagles. Testing has confirmed the cause to be Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or “bird flu.”
“We’ve had eleven birds confirmed so far. We’re just starting to get some reports in,” she said. “It caught us a little off guard. Avian influenza usually starts to show up in Missouri around Thanksgiving time.”
Hudman is not sure if the reports and surveillance are coming in earlier than usual or if the disease is spreading earlier than usual.
“Whenever they do this migration over long distances and they start congregating in large numbers at stopover sites and so that leads to disease spread. So, you typically see it in the waterfowl. You can see it in Raptors, so those that scavenge off the dead birds, so hawks and eagles.”
Hudman stresses that songbirds have not tested positive for bird flu in Missouri.
Where are most of the sick birds found?
“The majority, just because of population, really like a lot of people will notice if there’s candidate geese dead in their backyard. So, and mainly along the Mississippi Flyway, the St. Louis areas is where we’ve seen most of them. There were a few down in the Bootheel,” she said.
Here’s a map of the locations where they have been found in Missouri.
Avian influenza spreads among birds through contact with infected feces, saliva, or nasal discharges. Symptoms to look for in sick birds include tremors, head tilting, lethargy, loss of coordination, inability to fly or walk properly, or trouble standing upright.
Safety tips for hunters:
• Dress harvested game birds in the field or in an area away from poultry and other birds.
• Dispose of carcasses and waste properly. Seal them in trash bags and place them in household trash or at a permitted landfill. Proper disposal helps protect raptors, including bald eagles, which are often scavengers and are highly susceptible to avian influenza.
• Allow all hunting gear, boats, and waders to dry completely between trips to help prevent spreading the virus between locations.
Although human infections are rare, the public is encouraged to avoid touching sick or dead birds. Keep pets away from dead or dying wildlife. Sighting of affected species should be reported to the Missouri Department of Conservation: mdc.mo.gov/4KD.
The agency advises the public to contact a healthcare provider if experiencing any unusual symptoms of possible infection, such as eye redness, respiratory problems, and fever.
According to the department, it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of 165°F, helps destroy the virus if present.
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