By Dr. Scott Ford
A highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain was isolated from chickens in the UK last November. This strain rather quickly escaped efforts to contain it and passed on to the Middle East in late December, where it resulted in the deaths of over 5,000 cranes in Israel and the culling of half a million production poultry. Not long later, it made landfall in the US and has gradually spread to about half the country. Our first case occurred in Wisconsin in a production poultry flock in Jefferson County in mid-March and resulted in the culling of 2.7 million chickens and has since hit a handful of backyard flocks and production farms since.
HPAI has also affected wildlife and a recent case of a bald eagle that developed neurologic symptoms caught the public’s attention recently. The stricken eagle was found in Bay View, a suburb of Milwaukee, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded and retrieved it. Because of the potential for HPAI to infect other birds in wildlife facilities or at least disrupt activities due to quarantines, wildlife centers are limiting the intake of wild birds, especially those that exhibit neurologic symptoms such as stumbling, convulsions, or incoordination. The eagle had such symptoms and was euthanized the next day. Test results for avian influenza are still pending. It’s worth noting that eagles often suffer neurologic impairment as a result of collisions or lead intoxication. I have not been in direct contact with Wisconsin Humane Society, which is where the eagle was taken, but I’m assuming that they performed an in-house lead screening and radiographs to check for lead in the GI tract or signs of trauma. They probably also performed an ophthalmologic exam to check for secondary signs of head trauma.
I was contacted by two different news stations and interviewed regarding eagles and avian influenza (see links above). The pieces are great but you may have additional questions. First of all, I’d like to remind everyone not to panic. The strain that is circulating is not likely to infect people under normal circumstances. However, if an affected bird bit or scratched you, the potential is increased so keep your distance from any dead birds or those exhibiting unusual behavior. Per the DNR’s website, you can contact the DNR Wildlife Hotline by emailing DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wi.gov or by leaving a voicemail message for a return phone call at 608-267-0866.
Avian influenza is extremely common in the environment and circulates all over the world via migratory birds, especially waterfowl, gulls, and other sea and shore birds. Most strains are of low pathogenicity and may not cause any noticeable symptoms. But when a highly pathogenic strain spreads, it becomes a serious danger to endangered populations of wild birds and to our own food chain. Do your part to limit the spread by keeping your chickens contained until the current epornitic (a fancy word for a bird epidemic) is over. If you feed wild birds, consider stopping for a while, particularly if you have pet chickens, ducks, or other birds of your own. My own chickens are not happy about being contained in their pen, despite the fact that it’s pretty spacious, but hopefully they’ll be out soon and enjoying the summer.
I’m including some resources below you may want to check out. I’d also love it if you post comments or questions below and I’ll do my best to answer. Stay safe!
Tags: avian influenza, bald eagle, disease, eagle, hpai, interview, media
#avian influenza #bald eagle #disease #eagle #hpai #interview #media
A 2012 report on research conducted with Coastal Raptors into health parameters of bald eagles, common ravens, and turkey vultures on the coasts of Washington and Oregon.
By C. J. Randall Required reading for avian medicine board certification. The book is dated but the information and images are still relevant as all of these diseases are still around.
Rescue and surgery for a bald eagle found injured in Washington State in 2011.
Once again- thanks for all of the great info related to our birds. You are definitely the go-to source as a knowledge base and certainly as our avian vet that we trust with our birds (you are the one and only in our book!). My question is this: I realize we currently have a ban on shows and swaps or movement in general of poultry. And that’s a good thing. But I was just asked if NPIP participants can ship or if other states NPIP breeders can ship to Wisconsin? I can’t seem to find any information regarding this online. I’m assuming that if there were a ban it would be posted? If it is okay to ship and receive from NPIP sources, is it safe to do so seeing how they won’t likely come in contact with wild birds while being shipped? Or do you feel the lack of bio security, as it relates, by postal staff in general is simply to risky at this time?
I checked for answers and came up with a similar result– the order is very specific about shows and NPIP flocks only. I recommend contacting the email or phone number on this page (https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/HPAIWisconsin.aspx) and asking directly. I don’t think there’s a great amount of risk contracting HPAI during transit but you still can’t be certain a facility is free of HPAI either, unless they are continually testing their birds. The safest move would be to not import or export birds if it’s not absolutely necessary.
Thank you so much! You always go above and beyond and I find comfort and absolute confidence in any answers you so graciously give me. It may sound silly, but to me, when it comes to all things avian- your word is law as the consummate authority. Since the untimely passing of the late, great Doctor Sadakas (spelling?), from Niles, I can honestly say that you are the one and only bird expert I trust wholeheartedly. With that said, and on an unrelated note, we’ll be seeing you soon (for my eclectus) Murphy’s, corrective beak trim. I’ve been keeping up on it but he can use your expertise once more for that and I believe he won’t require corrective trims going forward! I never thought I would see that day- thanks to you- we arrived at this glorious day that my beloved Murph is going to have a normal, healthy beak!
Thank you so much for looking into that question I had for you. I was asking for my partner/ co founder of the Serama Club of Wisconsin, Lisa. She purchased some show birds from Georgia. As for me, the inn is full- show birds and available pets. I rarely add new lines to my flock. I try to limit things to one good, new Line every few years anyway. Currently, I have ten show bird lines of Serama and am not breeding very much until we know how long we’ll be under restriction/ advised to keep birds indoors during the looming AI.
Thanks again Dr. Ford! I do hope you and your husband have an incredible and safe easter
Thanks for the info. I don’t have any questions.
Hey, anytime, my friend. Nice to see you commenting here! 🙂