Alaska - Avian flu in wild birds 2023-2025

[Shiloh]

Source: https://alaskapublic.org/2023/05/31/...thwest-alaska/

Season's first bird flu casualty found in Southwest Alaska
By Francisco Martínezcuello, KYUK - Bethel -
May 31, 2023

A highly contagious strain of avian influenza has been detected in a migratory bird in Western Alaska. It's the first reported birth flu death of the season in the state. The animal killed was a cackling goose, according to scientists.

Bryan Daniels, lead waterfowl biologist at the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, said the death was discovered Thursday.

“We did find a bird that succumbed to avian influenza with all the normal signs of the neurological disorders, when they sat around and then next day being dead, looking like he's just sleeping on a pond,” Daniels said...

[Treyfish]

New Cases Of Avian Flu Detected In Wild Birds

By chrisco2 June 8, 2023
When two bears were stricken with avian flu late last year, there weren’t a lot of reports of other animals detected with the virus. But now there are more cases being reported. Here’s more on the new data from the Alaska Beacon:

In Alaska, the documented case count is 232 wild birds, three foxes and two bears as of early this week, Ramey said. Those are cases of animals that were found dead or dying, with confirmation in laboratories of highly pathogenic avian influenza infections.

That means the cases represent only a small fraction of the effects in the wild, Ramey said, as most cases likely go unnoticed and unreported by people.

It is common for wild birds to carry numerous influenza viruses, usually of the …

https://aksportingjournal.com/new-ca...in-wild-birds/

[Pathfinder]

Scientists found fewer positive cases of bird flu in Alaska this year

By Francisco Martínezcuello, KYUK - Bethel -September 26, 2023

With migratory bird season coming to a close, state and federal officials are reporting that the number of bird flu cases, particularly the highly pathogenic kind, are continuing to trend downwards, though they’re still waiting to test some samples.

It took about three months to get test results back from the migratory bird that was found dead in Western Alaska on Thursday, May 25. Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge scientists suspected the dead cackling goose to be the first casualty caused by the highly pathogenic avian influenza. But State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Gerlach said that the goose didn’t test positive for bird flu.

“Yeah, that was a negative for the high pathogen influenza. I don’t believe that it even had a low pathogen strain there,” Gerlach said.
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Recently, a glaucous gull did come back positive, making it the first confirmed positive case in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Gerlach also said that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found some dead murres from a mortality event in the Bethel census area. That agency confirmed 20 positive cases from dead common murres on Sept 15.

“A large number of birds died, and we’ve identified an influenza virus, and we sure don’t know what that virus is yet. I’m making an assumption that it’s more than likely going to be a high pathogen influenza virus, but we’ll go ahead and hopefully find out because oftentimes, as we see, we’ve had other mortality events occur across the state. Large number of birds die, they send them into us,” Gerlach said.

But this shouldn’t be alarming. Overall, Gerlach said that they saw a decreasing number of cases this year. According to a State of Alaska epidemiology bulletin, in 2022 there were 123 positive cases from the 850 samples submitted to the state lab. That is just 14% of the samples tested from both wild and domestic birds from across the state.
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https://alaskapublic.org/2023/09/26/scientists-found-fewer-positive-cases-of-bird-flu-in-alaska-this-year/

[sharon sanders]

19 cases of avian flu identified in Dillingham

By Christina McDermott, KDLG News
Published: 11 hours ago

snip

McDermott: I’ve read that there’s recently been about 20, last time I looked, cases in Dillingham in the common murre population.

Gerlach: That’s correct. It was right around the end of August when samples were collected. And it does take a while for them to ship them in to the laboratory here. We’ve got a very good collaboration with the wildlife biologists out there with both Fish and Game as well as US Fish and Wildlife. The US Fish and Wildlife biologist noted some murres that were part of a mortality event, collected the samples, and then shipped them in to us for avian influenza testing. As part of our surveillance program here, we do necropsies on those animals as well.

McDermott: You said there was a mortality event. Does that mean several deaths?

Gerlach: That means there’s a significant number. It has got to be more than five. And in this case, there were within 20, 30 birds that they had found. You have to realize that with the large area that the biologists are working in, and their ability to get around, oftentimes, we may not be seeing the entire mortality event. It’s really important that we have collaboration with the biologists as well as with the general public. If they see something that’s abnormal, report itso we can get somebody out there to go ahead and collect samples to see if influenza may be a problem.

snip

Gerlach: We’re still waiting for results from the USDA laboratory down in Ames, Iowa that’s doing genetic testing on the virus. What they do is not just identify that it’s an avian flu virus, and that it’s H5N1, but they also try to do genomic testing to see if they can identify if this is a strain that’s been circulating in North America, or the possibility that this may be a new introduction from Asia with the migratory birds that come across. This is important for us to try to understand to see if we’re going to see new strains coming in.


more...https://www.adn.com/bristol-bay-time...in-dillingham/

[Pathfinder]

HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) OUTBREAKS AND BIOSECURITY TOOLKIT FROM USDA APHIS

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Confirmations of Avian Influenza in Alaska

10/10/2023	North Slope Borough	Black-Legged Kittiwake	1	EA H5N1
9/15/2023	Dillingham Census Area	Common Murre	17	EA H5N1
9/15/2023	Dillingham Census Area	Common Murre	1	EA H5*
8/25/2023	Bethel Census Area	Glaucous Gull	1	EA H5N1
8/25/2023	North Slope Borough	Short-Tailed Shearwater	3	EA H5N1
6/27/2023	Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
6/2/2023	Sitka City and Borough	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
3/31/2023	City and Borough of Wrangell	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
3/21/2023	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Red Fox	1	EA H5N1
3/15/2023	Sitka City and Borough	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
3/15/2023	Sitka City and Borough	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
2/17/2023	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Mallard	5	EA H5N1
2/17/2023	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Mallard	4	Low Pathogenic
1/23/2023	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Lesser Scaup	1	EA H5N1
1/5/2023	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Trumpeter Swan	1	Low Pathogenic
1/4/2023	Sitka City and Borough	Common Raven	1	EA H5N1
1/4/2023	Aleutians West Census Area	Glaucous Gull	1	EA H5N1
1/4/2023	Aleutians West Census Area	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
1/4/2023	Aleutians West Census Area	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
12/19/2022	North Slope Borough	Sooty Shearwater	1	Low Pathogenic
12/14/2022	Sitka City and Borough	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
12/14/2022	Sitka City and Borough	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
12/14/2022	Sitka City and Borough	Trumpeter Swan	1	EA H5N1
12/8/2022	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Bald Eagle	1	EA H5N1
12/7/2022	Kodiak Island Borough	Brown Bear	1	EA H5N1

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https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/announcements/avian-influenza-outbreaks/

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds
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State County Collection Date Date Detected HPAI Strain Bird Species WOAH Classification Sampling Method

Alaska Fairbanks North Star Borough 05/12/2024 06/12/2024 EA H5N1 Bald eagle Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Last Modified: August 27, 2024
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State County Collection Date Date Detected HPAI Strain Bird Species WOAH Classification Sampling Method

Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 3/7/2024 8/21/2024 H5 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 3/7/2024 8/21/2024 EA H5 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 3/7/2024 8/21/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Last Modified: September 10, 2024
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State County Collection Date Date Detected HPAI Strain Bird Species WOAH Classification Sampling Method

Alaska Anchorage 10/4/2023 9/4/2024 EA/AM H5N1 Black-billed magpie Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Anchorage 10/19/2023 9/4/2024 EA/AM H5N1 Green-winged teal Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Aleutians West 11/28/2023 9/4/2024 EA H5N1 Bald eagle Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Juneau, City and Borough 10/21/2023 8/30/2024 EA/AM H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Hunter harvest
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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock...ons/wild-birds

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Last Modified: November 06, 2024
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State County Collection Date Date Detected HPAI Strain Bird Species WOAH Classification Sampling Method

Alaska Juneau 10/5/2024 10/31/2024 EA H5 Mallard Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 10/5/2024 10/31/2024 EA H5 Mallard Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 10/5/2024 10/31/2024 EA H5 Northern pintail Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/29/2024 10/31/2024 EA H5 Green-winged teal Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/29/2024 10/31/2024 EA H5 Green-winged teal Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/29/2024 10/31/2024 EA H5 Green-winged teal Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/26/2024 10/30/2024 EA H5 American wigeon Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/26/2024 10/30/2024 EA H5 American wigeon Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/26/2024 10/30/2024 EA H5 Green-winged teal Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/26/2024 10/30/2024 EA H5 Green-winged teal Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/26/2024 10/30/2024 EA H5 Green-winged teal Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Juneau 9/26/2024 10/30/2024 EA H5 Green-winged teal Wild bird Hunter harvest
Alaska Fairbanks North Star 5/3/2022 9/20/2024 EA/AM H5N1 Canada goose Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Valdez-Cordova 12/25/2023 9/16/2024 EA H5N1 Magpie (unidentified) Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Valdez-Cordova 12/25/2023 9/16/2024 EA H5N1 Magpie (unidentified) Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Valdez-Cordova 12/25/2023 9/16/2024 EA H5N1 Magpie (unidentified) Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Valdez-Cordova 12/25/2023 9/16/2024 EA H5N1 Magpie (unidentified) Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Aleutians West 12/19/2023 9/16/2024 EA H5N1 Bald eagle Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Aleutians West 12/7/2023 9/16/2024 EA H5N1 Bald eagle Wild bird Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/14/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/14/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/14/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/14/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/14/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/14/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/14/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/13/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/13/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/13/2023 9/12/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/8/2023 9/5/2024 EA H5N1 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/12/2023 9/5/2024 EA H5 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
Alaska Matanuska-Susitna 12/8/2023 9/5/2024 EA H5 Mallard Wild bird Live bird
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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Last Modified: November 19, 2024
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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds
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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds

[Pathfinder]

Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Last Modified: January 28, 2025
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State County Collection Date Date Detected HPAI Strain Bird Species WOAH Classification Sampling Method

Alaska	Aleutians East	10/9/2023	1/24/2025	EA H5N1	Mallard	Wild bird	Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska	Aleutians East	10/9/2023	1/24/2025	EA H5N1	Northern pintail	Wild bird	Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska	Aleutians East	10/9/2023	1/24/2025	EA H5N1	Northern pintail	Wild bird	Morbidity/Mortality
Alaska	Aleutians East	10/9/2023	1/24/2025	EA H5N1	Northern pintail	Wild bird	Morbidity/Mortality

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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock...ons/wild-birds

[Pathfinder]

Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matanuska-Susitna_Borough,_Alaska
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Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Last Modified: March 11, 2025
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State County Collection Date Date Detected HPAI Strain Bird Species WOAH Classification Sampling Method

Alaska	Matanuska-Susitna	02/18/2025	03/06/2025	EA H5	Mallard	Wild bird	Live bird
Alaska	Matanuska-Susitna	02/18/2025	03/06/2025	EA H5	Mallard	Wild bird	Live bird
Alaska	Matanuska-Susitna	01/09/2025	01/27/2025	EA H5	Mallard	Wild bird	Live bird
Alaska	Matanuska-Susitna	01/09/2025	01/27/2025	EA H5	Mallard	Wild bird	Live bird

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https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds