What Gardeners Should Know about Avian Influenza

Be assured, that avian influenza is not a virus that is an immediate public health concern for humans. Whew. But it is severely affecting our domestic poultry food supply. The classification as "highly pathogenic" refers to the severity of illness it causes to poultry.  It was first detected in the United States on January 14, 2022 in South Carolina. The first case in Pennsylvania was reported on March 24, 2022 in a bald eagle.

According to the CDC's Bird Flu Current Situation Summary, as of April 22, 2022, there have been 30,991,110 poultry affected in the United Sates. There is no treatment. 

What is bird flu?

Avian influenza or "bird flu" is a group of viral infections that occur naturally among birds. Some wild birds, like ducks, geese, and swans as well as gulls and other shorebirds, can carry flu viruses in their intestines, but these species typically do not get sick. Infected birds shed virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and droppings, and migratory birds can spread avian influenza among bird populations over long distances.

Poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, domestic ducks, quail, guinea fowl, and pheasants, can be easily infected when they come into direct contact with secretions from infected wild birds or when they are exposed to surfaces or materials contaminated with the virus, such as dirt, cages, water, or food.  The severe form (highly pathogenic) of disease spreads rapidly through flocks affecting multiple internal organs and causing death rates that reach 90-100% within 48 hours.

Should I continue to use bird feeders?

The types of perching birds that frequent your garden do not normally comingle with waterfowl and are considered a low risk for avian flu. 

As always, keep bird feeders clean and disinfected.  Follow these guidelines.

• Clean your feeders about once every two weeks, more often during times of heavy use or wet weather or if there have been reports of salmonella in your area or you have seen sick birds in your yard. To clean your feeder, take it apart and hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.
• Clean the ground below your feeders, too, to prevent a build-up of hulls, uneaten seeds, and other waste. Moldy or spoiled food is unhealthy both for birds and for your outside pets. And bird food scattered on the ground can attract unwanted rodents.

What to do if you find a sick or dead bird

• Avoid handling birds unless necessary. If you must handle them wear disposable gloves, or use an inverted plastic bag over your hand to pick up a dead bird.  Disinfect any equipment and/or clothes that touch a dead or sick bird with an appropriate disinfectant.
• Keep pets (including pet birds) away from sick or dead wild birds as a standard precaution.
• Report sick or dead birds:  Report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through your veterinarian, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture at 717-784-4737, or through USDA's toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.

If you have a backyard poultry flock or need more information, consult Penn State Extension's Avian Influenza website.

References and Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information on Avian Influenza

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Traveler's Health

Penn State Extension Avian Influenza

United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. USDA confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a wild bird in South Carolina.