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August 22, 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Detected in Fresno and Contra Costa Counties
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AHPIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a California commercial flock in Fresno County. While this virus has impacted commercial flocks in most other states in the U.S. since last January, this is the first commercial flock to be found infected in California. HPAI has also been recently detected in a backyard flock in Contra Costa County. To protect other California flocks, the infected locations are currently under quarantine, and the birds have been euthanized to prevent further disease spread.
As of August 22, 2022, HPAI has been detected in backyard flocks in Sacramento County, Butte County, and Contra Costa County and in a commercial flock in Fresno County, California. In addition to domestic flocks, HPAI was detected in wild birds in the following twelve counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus. The viral spread is promoted by wild birds especially, in wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese, but many other wild bird species can also be a source of spread. Poultry owners can protect their flocks by increasing their biosecurity practices.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current detections of HPAI in birds does not present a public health concern and the public health risk remains low. While not recommended, if you handle sick or dead wild birds, use disposable gloves (or a plastic bag turned inside out) to place the body in a garbage bag. No birds or bird products infected with HPAI will enter the food chain. As a reminder, it is recommended that all poultry and eggs are properly handled and cooked to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F as a food safety precaution. Please contact your local public health department for further information on preventing avian influenza in people.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious and often fatal disease in birds. We are urging poultry owners to increase their biosecurity practices. Biosecurity is the measures taken to prevent disease from entering and/or leaving a premises or location. Although this outbreak of avian influenza is primarily being spread by wild birds, the virus can be further spread between domestic flocks through contact with infected poultry, from contaminated equipment, and even the shoes and clothing worn by poultry caretakers.
Here are some biosecurity recommendations to help protect your flock:
- Wash your hands before and after handling your birds. This includes when handling birds from coop to coop.
- Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing your birds into an enclosure that is covered.
- If you have bodies of water on your property such as ponds or ditches, consider draining them to avoid attracting wild birds, and keep your domestic birds away from this potentially contaminated water.
- Use sanitized well or city water for your birds.
- Prevent rodents and predators from entering your coop.
- Prevent pets such as cats and dogs from eating dead wild birds.
- Keep feed covered and spills cleaned up to avoid attracting wild birds and rodents.
- Wash and disinfect boots and equipment when moving between coops.
- Do not share equipment or supplies with neighbors.
- Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses.
- Clean and disinfect your shoes and vehicle tires after visiting feedstores and other places frequented by other poultry owners or wild bird hunters.
- Avoid visiting places where wild birds congregate such as lakes and ponds.
Report any unusual or suspicious numbers of sick or dead domestic birds immediately to the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473. Monitor your birds for the following symptoms:
- Trouble breathing
- Clear, runny discharge from nose, mouth, and eyes
- Lethargy or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
- Drinking less
- Swollen eyes, head, wattles, or combs
- Discolored or bruised comb, wattles, or legs
- Stumbling, falling, or twisted neck
- Sudden death
Report any unusual or suspicious dead wild birds to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report. If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, please contact California Department of Fish and Wildlife directly. Contact information is available here: Wildlife Health Lab - Avian Investigations (ca.gov)
For public inquiries regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza in California, please call: 916-217-7517. For media inquiries, please call 916-654-0462 or send an e-mail to: OfficeOfPublicAffairs@cdfa.ca.gov.
Stay Informed
For the latest updates in California domestic poultry, follow us on social media and subscribe. You can find us on Facebook at Animal Health Branch – CDFA and on Instagram at AnimalHealthBranch_CDFA.
For more information and updates on wild bird detections in California, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
More information on avian influenza and how to protect flocks through biosecurity measures can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.
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August 11, 2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Confirmed in California Backyard Flock
Sacramento, CA– Following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard flock in Sacramento County. In addition to this confirmation, HPAI has also been detected in wild birds in the following twelve counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus. The viral spread is promoted by wild birds especially in wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese, but many other wild bird species can also be a source of spread. Poultry owners can protect their flocks by increasing their biosecurity practices.
To protect other flocks in California, the confirmed infected location is currently under quarantine, and the birds have been euthanized to prevent further disease spread.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current detections of HPAI in birds does not present a public health concern and the public health risk remains low. While not recommended, if you handle sick or dead wild birds, use gloves (or a plastic bag turned inside out) to place the body in a garbage bag. Please contact your local public health department for further information on preventing avian influenza in people.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious and often fatal disease in birds. We are urging poultry owners to increase their biosecurity practices. Biosecurity is the measures taken to prevent disease from entering and/or leaving a premises or location. Although this outbreak of avian influenza is primarily being spread by wild birds, the virus can be further spread between domestic flocks through contact with infected poultry, from contaminated equipment, and even the shoes and clothing worn by poultry caretakers. Here are some biosecurity recommendations to help protect your flock:
- Wash you hands before and after handling your birds. This includes when moving from coop to coop.
- Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing your birds indoors or ensuring their outdoor area is fully enclosed and covered.
- If you have bodies of water on your property such as ponds or ditches, consider draining them to avoid attracting wild birds, and keep your domestic birds away from this potentially contaminated water.
- Use sanitized well or city water for your birds.
- Prevent rodents and predators from entering your coop.
- Keep feed covered and spills cleaned up to avoid attracting wild birds and rodents.
- Wash and disinfect booths and equipment when moving between coops.
- Do not share equipment or supplies with neighbors.
- Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses.
- Clean and disinfect your shoes and vehicle tires after visiting feedstores and other places frequented by other poultry owners or wild bird hunters.
- Avoid visiting places where wild birds congregate such as lakes and ponds.
Report any unusual or suspicious numbers of sick or dead domestic birds immediately to the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473. Monitor your birds for the following symptoms:
- Trouble breathing
- Clear, runny discharge from nose, mouth, and eyes
- Lethargy or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
- Drinking less
- Swollen eyes, head, wattles, or combs
- Discolored or bruised comb, wattles or legs
- Stumbling, falling or twisted neck
- Sudden death
Report any unusual or suspicious dead wild birds to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report. If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, please contact California Department of Fish and Wildlife directly. Contact information is available here: Wildlife Health Lab - Avian Investigations (ca.gov)
Stay Informed
For the latest updates in California domestic poultry, follow us on social media and subscribe. You can find us on Facebook at Animal Health Branch – CDFA and on Instagram at AnimalHealthBranch_CDFA.
For more information and updates on wild bird detections in California, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
More information on avian influenza and how to protect flocks through biosecurity measures can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.
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