According to a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, avian flu outbreaks are killing thousands of wild birds in the Treasure Valley.
On Wednesday, the agency announced that it had lately received reports of numerous dead birds, many of them geese, near Fort Boise, Lake Lowell, and Parma. Staff are cleaning up bird carcasses in some of the places with the highest concentrations of mortality, and the numbers are anticipated to be in the thousands, according to Stacey Dauwalter, coordinator of the Fish and Game health program, who made the announcement.
According to Dauwalter, the best way to lessen the effects of avian influenza is to remove the diseased carcasses.
Bird flu outbreaks have occurred often in the United States in recent years, including in dairies at the beginning of the year and backyard poultry flocks in 2022. As recently as two weeks ago, three dairies in Idaho, including one in Boise, were placed under state quarantine due to avian flu outbreaks, according to earlier Idaho Statesman reporting.
The common type, H5N1, was initially discovered in the 1990s and is regarded as highly pathogenic, which means it is extremely contagious and capable of causing serious sickness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to people, the strain has been found in dogs, cats, livestock, and a number of animal species, including Idaho skunks.
Experts urge hunters to watch for bird flu
Fish and Game migratory game bird coordinator Jeff Knetter said in the agency s news release that die-offs like the ones affecting the Treasure Valley are occurring all over the U.S., predominantly affecting light geesespecies with light-colored headslike snow, blue and Ross s geese.
According to Knetter, the mass deaths won’t affect the bird numbers in the long run.
He stated in the news release that the affected number of birds is a very small percentage of the total population, which is over a million birds.
According to Fish and Game authorities, bird flu mostly affects ducks and geese. They also pointed out that in recent years, numerous migrating waterfowl species have made Southwest Idaho an important stopover. Tens of thousands of the migratory species have occasionally been sighted in the area.
Live animals exhibiting symptoms of illness, including lethargy, gasping for air, coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge, should be left alone, according to the agency. Dead birds should only be handled with a mask and disposable gloves. They should also be double-bagged and thrown in the garbage.
Fish and Game asked people to use its online reporting form to report any observations of sick or dead animals.
The Southwest Region’s migratory bird shooting seasons began in the fall and continue until March for some species. The Fish and Game website has all the season’s rules and information.
Hunters were directed by Fish and Game to another U.S. Department of Agriculture website. Wearing disposable gloves and using specialized instruments that are kept away from chickens and other animals, the federal agency advises treating harvested birds in the field. Hunters are also encouraged to double-bag feathers and offal and to use a dedicated pair of shoes while dressing or wear rubber shoes that can be cleaned and disinfected before being worn elsewhere.
The USDA recommends washing hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer immediately after handling any wild birds.
Bird flu poses risk to people, pets
Though the CDC said bird flu transmissions to humans are rare, there have been dozens of documented cases. Last month, Dr. David Pate, the former CEO of St. Luke s Health System, told the Statesman it s likely cases have been underreported in farmworkers who have close contact with poultry or cattle infected with the disease.
Idaho has not had any reported cases of bird flu in humans, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. But the statehas looser safety regulationsthan some others, andtesting among workers is voluntary.
There is currently no vaccine or targeted treatment for bird flu for humans or animals.The Cleveland Clinic describesbird flu s symptoms in humans as similar to other flu strains causing fever, fatigue, cough, body aches, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms. It can potentially cause pneumonia, respiratory failure or other serious complications.
The hospital said sick people who have had close contact with birds should let health care professionals know to test for bird flu. Treatments can include antiviral medications used for other flu strains.
Pets are also at risk, particularly if they have contact with wild birds or infected livestock. Backyard poultry have the highest risk and should be kept away from wild birds.
It s extremely rare for poultry to recover from the highly contagious flu, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.The association s websiteincludes recommendations for prevention, including keeping cats indoors, and recognizing the disease in various species.
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