Around the start of January, there were reports of dead snow geese in the greater Allentown area in PA. According to a news release by the PA Game Commission (PGC), approximately 200 dead snow geese …
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Around the start of January, there were reports of dead snow geese in the greater Allentown area in PA. According to a news release by the PA Game Commission (PGC), approximately 200 dead snow geese were found at two separate sites in the Allentown area. It was presumed that the goose mortalities were caused by avian influenza. At the time the news release was published on January 2, the PGC was awaiting test results to confirm avian influenza as the cause of these goose mortality events. Living sick birds were also observed at these same locations. This event made some local internet news sites, but there has been no evidence of similar events locally.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (known as H5N1) is known to infect wild birds, especially waterfowl and raptors. It can also be present in domestic bird flocks. Those of us who buy eggs at the market have seen the price of eggs increase during the last few weeks; part of this is presumed to be the effect of H5N1 on egg laying flocks that provide the eggs sold in stores. Infected birds shed avian influenza viruses through their saliva, mucus and feces; healthy birds can become infected by breathing or ingesting dust, food etc. left by an infected bird.
Domestically raised poultry flocks that are healthy are safe from infection as long as wild or domestic birds do not share the same area as the flock. For that reason, new birds that are added to the flock from other farms, shows etc. should be quarantined for at least 30 days before being introduced to the main flock. Rarely, H5N1 can infect both humans and cattle; the NYS Dept of Health has found no case of either instance in New York since inception of monitoring.
Locally, there are no large-scale wild bird infection occurrences that are known to be occurring at the current time. Species recovered in the area in the past that tested positive included bald eagles and black vultures. If you see dead birds that you suspect to have succumbed to H5N1, or live birds that exhibit neurologic dysfunction such as circling, head tilting and difficulty flying, call the PGC at 833/742-9453. In New York, call the Department of Environmental Conservation Region 3 office at 845/ 256-3098 or email the Wildlife Health Unit directly at wildlifehealth@dec.ny.gov.
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