RALEIGH — Officials from multiple natural resource agencies in North Carolina have identified the first recorded wild bird mortality rates from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Deaths to date include snow geese (Hide County), Red-shouldered Red-shouldered (Cartellet County), Red-shouldered Red-shouldered (Wake County), and Bald Eagles (Dare County).
Snow geese were collected by shelter staff at the Matamasquito National Wildlife Sanctuary and first tested at the US Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center. Other birds were collected by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff and tested by the Southeastern Joint Wildlife Disease Study. Both snow geese and redheads were observed with neurological signs consistent with HPAI prior to euthanasia. Taka and eagle were found dead. Both laboratories have detected the presence of the avian influenza virus, but HPAI has been confirmed by the National Institute of Veterinary Services in Ames, Iowa.
In January, a wildlife commission biologist issued a press release showing that some waterfowl tested positive for HPAI. The infected birds were asymptotic hunter-harvested birds collected during the USDA Wild Bird Surveillance Program. Most recently, biologists received a confirmed mortality report from HPAI.
Bird flu is classified as either hypopathogenic or highly pathogenic, depending on its ability to cause disease in poultry. HPAI can cause wild bird mortality, especially in raptors that prey on waterfowl and scavengers of birds that eat infected carcasses. Wild waterfowl usually show no signs of illness and the risk of HPAI infecting humans is low. To date, there have been no known human infections in North America.
“If anyone encounters a death event involving five or more waterfowl or waterfowl, or a raptor or bird of prey scavenger of any size, including crows, ravens and seagulls, we want to know about them. I think, “said Sarah van de Berg. She is a wildlife biologist on the Wildlife Commission. “We are particularly interested in affected events that include any number of the same bird species observed with clinical symptoms consistent with neuropathy, such as swimming in a circle, tilting the head, and lack of coordination.”
The general public should report the wild bird behavior described by Van de Berg to the North Carolina Wildlife Helpline (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm) or email HWI@ncwildlife.org. We recommend that you send it. Diseased or dying captive birds should be reported to the local veterinarian, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Science (NCDA & CS) Veterinary Division, 919-707-3250, or North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, 919-733-3986. is needed. For more information on HPAI, please visit the NCDA & CS website.
Birds that test positive for all bird mortality due to HPAI, or otherwise, are being tracked by the United States Department of Agriculture. Check here for the latest list.
