The Indiana Department of Fish and Wildlife continues to detect Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild waterfowl.
This is due to directed testing, and the current season. Winter is the most active time for the disease because snow geese are migrating, dropping infected feces as they go.
It was detected in Gibson County and Henderson County this past December.
Now it’s been found in 11 additional counties including Allen, Pike, Porter and Vermillion over the last six weeks.
Eli Fleace is a Fish and Wildlife Health biologist with the DNR.
“So another reason that it spreads in the cold better is because a lot of these birds are migrating, and so some of their immune function is a little bit repressed because they're spending so much energy just moving across the continent.”
He said they’re also making an effort to test every county in which HPAI has not been detected — so naturally more cases will emerge.
Fleace said this disease appeared in North America in 2021 and Indiana in 2022.
It can cause illness or death in wild waterfowl and domestic poultry.
He says the name of the disease — “highly pathogenic” refers to its potential impact on domestic poultry — not wild birds.
“So you can have a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza that does not really affect waterfowl that much,” he said. “But if it does really affect domestic poultry, it will be termed as ‘highly pathogenic,’ and that that term has no relation to human health or to Wildlife Health.”
HPAI can be spread to human working on concentrated environments with poultry.
The disease is transmitted mostly through bird droppings, saliva and nasal secretions. Some strains of the virus can weaken and kill waterfowl, and in the past has spread to domestic poultry operations.
It’s also triggered protection protocols for avian exhibits at the Mesker Park Zoo. In November of 2022, and March of 2023, avian exhibits like Penguins of Patagonia and Amazonia.
Currently, zoo staff are monitoring the situation with HPAI.
Deceased or seemingly ill waterfowl can be reported to the DNR for possible testing.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has also confirmed cases of HPAI in samples taken from snow geese at Sloughs Wildlife Management Area in Henderson.
Fish and Wildlife said via news release that waterfowl hunters should take precautions to protect themselves and their hunting dogs.
This includes not harvesting found-dead or obviously sick waterfowl and dressing harvested birds in well ventilated areas.
Carefully sanitize any equipment or working surfaces that touch birds and double-bag feathers and other remains.
Harvested poultry is safe as long as it’s properly cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
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