Bird Flu

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, occurs naturally in wild birds around the world. The H5N1 influenza A virus is a strain of bird flu that has been found recently on Oahu, and is concerning for the following reasons:

It is highly contagious between birds and usually fatal for infected birds
Millions of poultry on farms have had to be killed to prevent further spread (it is 90% fatal for chickens)
Infects wild, feral, stray, and domestic mammals, including cats, dogs, pigs, deer, and goats
Infects cows on farms, and has been found in raw milk (pasteurized milk is still safe to drink)
Can also infect humans who are in close contact with infected animals. Common symptoms include pink eye, fever, and coughing
There is a very real fear the virus might mutate and begin to spread from person to person

Reuters has an excellent infographic on this topic with easy to understand diagrams: How humans can and can’t catch bird flu (Note: diagrams are an important a part of nature journaling… we don’t need to only journal about the beauty of nature, it’s important to also include challenging topics in our journals as well.)

What does this mean for us in Hawaii?

Wild aquatic birds are most affected by bird flu. This includes waterbirds (waterfowl) such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls, and terns, and shorebirds, such as storks, plovers, and sandpipers.

If you find multiple dead or sick birds in an area, do not attempt to handle the birds! Report them to Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture: call 808-483-7106, Monday to Friday from 7:45AM to 4:30PM. If calling outside those hours, use 808-837-8092.

Reporting dead birds helps with tracking the spread of the virus, and also helps reduces the risk of a botulism outbreak, which is connected with carcasses remaining in wetlands.

If you find a downed seabird and decide to rescue it, wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, facemasks, eye protection, protective gowns and footwear. Practice proper hygiene and sanitize hands, clothes, towels and other items after handling any animal.