SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 2, 2022 (Gephardt Daily) — State wildlife officials say avian flu has spread to wild birds in nine counties since arriving in Utah in April.
The virus most recently was confirmed in birds in Davis, Millard and Sanpete counties, likely due to the fall migration, according to a news release Friday from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Avian flu previously had been confirmed in Cache, Carbon, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah and Weber counties.
As of Tuesday, 44 birds and two red foxes have tested positive for avian influenza in Utah. Infected birds include raptors and waterbirds, specifically Canada geese, great horned owls, hawks, pelicans, turkey vultures, grebes, gulls and ducks.
“If anyone finds a group of five or more dead waterfowl or shorebirds — or any individual dead scavengers or raptors — they should report it to the nearest DWR office and absolutely make sure not to touch the birds or pick them up,” DWR veterinarian Ginger Stout said.
“Report it to us, and we will come collect them for testing. We are continuing to monitor this virus in wild bird populations. This particular strain is affecting more wild birds than the previous outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.”
DWR officials say recently confirmed cases of avian flu include:
Davis County
- Aug. 16: Two dead Canada geese were found in West Point.
- Aug. 17: An owl was found dead in Syracuse.
- Aug. 22: A cinnamon teal duck and two eared grebes were found dead in Woods Cross.
- Aug. 23: A goose was found dead in Layton.
Millard County
- Aug. 22: A Canada goose was found dead near Delta.
Sanpete County
- Aug. 17: A Canada goose was found dead in Mt. Pleasant.
The birds were collected by DWR officials and sent for testing at the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Logan. Samples also were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which confirmed they had highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to DWR.
These viruses are very contagious among birds and can cause rapid and high mortality in domestic birds, including chickens, turkeys and domestic ducks, according to DWR. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses occasionally kill wild birds.
The virus is spread among birds through nasal and oral discharge, as well as fecal droppings, state wildlife officials said. It can be spread to backyard poultry and domestic birds through contaminated shoes or vehicles, according to DWR.
Because songbirds typically are not affected by avian flu, DWR officials say it’s not necessary to remove bird feeders unless residents also have backyard chickens or domestic ducks, which are susceptible to the virus.
DWR officials say the current strain of the avian flu presents a low risk to people, but it has been confirmed in at least one person in Colorado during the most recent outbreak. For more information about the avian flu, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
For Utahns planning to hunt waterfowl or upland game birds this fall, DWR has offered the following tips for keeping hunters and their dogs safe:
- Do not harvest, handle or eat any animal that appears sick.
- Field dress game animals in a well-ventilated area or outdoors.
- Avoid direct contact with the intestines.
- Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning birds. Wash hands with soap and water, and thoroughly clean all knives, equipment and surfaces that come in contact with the birds. Disinfect using a 10% chlorine bleach solution.
- Keep game birds cool, clean and dry.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game or handling animals.
- All game meat should be thoroughly cooked before eating (well done or 165 degrees).
- Dogs are susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza, but they don’t often show clinical signs. Though the risk of infection is low, visit the DWR website to identify the locations with active cases of avian flu in wild birds and avoid those areas when using retrievers. Consult a veterinarian if a dog exhibits any respiratory symptoms.
- Those with domestic poultry should keep them separated from the wild bird carcasses. Do not handle poultry after handling wild birds.
