Washington state: 2022-2026 bird flu in wild birds

[Shiloh]

Source: https://kgmi.com/news/007700-wsda-confirms-first-case-of-bird-flu-in-whatcom-county/

WSDA confirms first case of bird flu in Whatcom County
By asmith May 12, 2022 8:10 am

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – More birds in Washington state are testing positive for a deadly bird flu and one of them was right here in Whatcom County.

Wildlife officials confirmed on Tuesday, May 10th, that a Canada goose found in our county was positive for H5N1 avian influenza.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture says H5N1 was also detected recently in two non-commercial flocks in Pierce County.

The owners there contacted the WSDA after noticing an unusual number of sudden deaths in their flocks...

 

[sharon sanders]

bump this

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://keprtv.com/news/local/preliminary-results-show-first-bird-flu-cases-in-tri-cities


Preliminary results show first bird flu cases in Tri-Cities
by Samantha SpitzMonday, May 23rd 2022
KEPR Action News

TRI-CITIES, Wash. — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is investigating after preliminary results show two positive cases for avian influenza, also known as bird flu, in the Tri-Cities.

Staci Lehman with WDFW said the two goslings that came back positive for avian influenza were picked up at the Columbia Park Pond in Kennewick...

 

[sharon sanders]

bump this

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.kxly.com/four-snow-geese-test-positive-for-bird-flu-in-grant-county/

Four snow geese test positive for bird flu in Grant County
Posted: May 26, 2022 2:03 PM
by Will Wixey

GRANT COUNTY, Wash. — Four snow geese in Grant County have tested positive for avian influenza, also known as the bird flu.

A Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist and a Moses Lake veterinarian collected the positive tests.

No humans in Washington state have been identified with having the bird flu. The virus is highly contagious among birds, though the risk of spreading it among humans is low.

These detections do not change the human risk assessment for the public, which CDC considers to be low. However, people who have job-related or recreational exposures to infected birds are at higher risk of infection and should take appropriate precautions...

 

[sharon sanders]

bump this

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://patch.com/washington/seattle/bird-flu-found-wild-ducks-bellevue-seattle

Bird Flu Found In Wild Ducks In Bellevue & Seattle
A week after identifying King County's first bird flu cases in backyard flocks, wild ducks and geese tested positive in two cities.
Lucas Combos,
Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Posted Wed, Jun 1, 2022 at 10:58 am PT


SEATTLE — Several wild ducks and geese tested positive for bird flu on private property and public parks in Seattle and Bellevue, officials announced Wednesday, as a nationwide outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus continues to spread among avian populations.


Public Health - Seattle & King County announced the latest infections after receiving initial testing results from wild birds found in three public parks on May 22. Officials said the infected birds were found in Bellevue Downtown Park, Green Lake Park and Volunteer Park.
News of the latest cases arrives one week after the health department confirmed King County's first known H5N1 infections in three backyard, non-poultry flocks...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.union-bulletin.com/news...cle_18c4278a-eb79-11ec-875c-531f5594ebed.html

Bird flu detected in Walla Walla County
Sheila Hagar Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
10 hrs ago

Health officials here were notified on Monday, June 13, that Walla Walla County joins more than a dozen other counties in Washington state where avian influenza has been identified this year.

Public health Director Dr. Daniel Kaminsky said state health officials reported to him that a dead red-tailed hawk found in the Burbank area in May tested positive for the Type A virus, H5H1.

The hawk was found on May 3 in the McNary National Wildlife Refuge, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.everettpost.com/press-releases/we-have-avian-influenza-in-the-north-sound

We Have Avian Influenza in the North Sound
Tue, June 14, 2022 by Marcee Maylin

Our previous story found here at Avian Flu, addressed this statewide issue. It is closer to us now in the North Sound and has now been detected in Skagit County.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed that a red-tailed hawk collected from Skagit County on May 11, 2022, has tested positive for HPAI H5N1, a strain of avian influenza or “Bird Flu.” At this time, we can assume that avian influenza is actively circulating in Skagit County, similar to much of Washington State...

 

[sharon sanders]

bump this

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://sanjuanislander.com/news-articles/34956/bird-flu-detected-in-san-juan-county


Bird Flu detected in San Juan County

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 29, 2022. Several wild Canadian geese collected from Crescent Beach in Eastsound tested positive for Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) last week. The geese were reported dead last week on the beach and were subsequently tested for AIV. These results are the first lab confirmed AIV cases in migratory wild birds (a bald eagle was confirmed positive in May 2022). Further laboratory tests will determine the variant of AIV found in the birds; however, it is presumed to be a variant of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), such as HPAI H5N1.

Migratory birds frequently visit San Juan County during Spring and Autumn months. Domestic bird owners are advised to take measures to protect their flocks, including keeping birds under cover or away from water sources shared with wild waterfowl...

 

[sharon sanders]

bump this

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://kgmi.com/news/007700-bird-flu-ravaging-flocks-near-wiser-lake/

Bird flu ravaging flocks near Wiser Lake
By asmith November 23, 2022 7:52 am
KGMI

LYNDEN, Wash. – Almost 400 sick or dead birds have turned up near Wiser Lake in Whatcom County and the public is being warned to stay away from them.

The County Health Department and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife say many of the birds have tested positive for a highly infectious bird flu.

The illness is spreading among wild birds and has been found in backyard flocks in western Washington...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.king5.com/article/tech/...tate/281-331a9ecc-4377-45ce-92bc-98e3aaac98f4

Bald eagle with bird flu found in West Seattle's Lincoln Park
WDFW has confirmed at least 18 cases in bald eagles, meaning there are likely many more. HPAI has impacted birds of multiple species for months.
Author: Erica Zucco
Published: 5:38 PM PST November 23, 2022
Updated: 5:58 PM PST November 23, 2022


SEATTLE — Washington state officials and conservationists are warning of cases of avian influenza located in West Seattle's Lincoln Park and across the state, asking people to watch for symptoms and report them in hopes of stopping the spread.

"It got quiet in the summer and then during migration - September, October - we got a resurgence of it," urban conservation specialist Kersti Muul said...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.thenorthernlight.com/stories/avian-flu-kills-and-sickens-wild-birds-at-wiser-lake,22599

Avian flu kills and sickens wild birds at Wiser Lake
Posted Wednesday, November 30, 2022 4:26 pm

Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are asking residents to not handle sick or dead birds after avian flu was detected at Wiser Lake, near Lynden. Nearly 400 sick or dead geese were recently found at the lake.

The two departments urged residents to avoid contact with the birds to prevent the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as avian flu or bird flu, in a November 22 press release. The virus is spreading through wild birds, such as Canada geese and snow geese, migrating through the area.

This isn’t the first time avian flu has been detected in Whatcom County this year. In mid-May, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) reported the first detection of avian flu in a backyard domestic flock. Bird flu was first confirmed in B.C. in April and shortly after started being detected throughout Washington state. The flu has been detected in 36 domestic flocks across Washington so far this year in addition to being found in wild birds, according to WSDA’s website.

The circulating strain of bird flu is not thought to easily infect humans, but people who have been in contact with infected birds should contact WCHD at 360/778-6100. Poultry products remain safe to eat when properly cooked. ..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/bird-flu-detected-in-grays-harbor-county/

Bird flu detected in Grays Harbor County
Prolonged outbreak in wild birds could signal new course for virus, scientists say
By Clayton Franke • December 3, 2022 1:30 am

The evening of Nov. 9, just before dark, Vivian Dahlin drove her Jeep onto the beach at Chance a La Mer in Ocean Shores. As her tires pushed through the tire-tracked sand, she scanned the beach and noticed a gray lump lying motionless in the roadway. As she got closer, she realized it was a bird.

“I drove up to it, and I sat and watched it,” said Dahlin, who regularly volunteers rescuing birds for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “I sort of talked to it. It didn’t move. I drove around it a couple of times, and it didn’t move. That’s not normal.”

Despite its behavior, the bird was “quite alive,” Dahlin said. The bird — which to Dahlin looked like a small goose — sat upright, nodding its head off to one side. It didn’t flee when Dahlin nudged it with her dog-ball launcher.

After scooping it into a carrier, Dahlin took the bird to the Twin Harbors Wildlife Center in Montesano, which sent test samples from the bird to a Washington State University wildlife disease lab in Pullman.

The bird, a Cackling Goose, died soon after...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://westseattleblog.com/2022/12/west-seattle-wildlife-swan-with-bird-flu-symptoms-on-alki/

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Swan with bird-flu symptoms on Alki
December 3, 2022 2:25 pm
| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

2:25 PM: That’s Kersti Muul‘s photo of a Trumpeter Swan seen at Alki this morning, showing signs of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, aka “bird flu.” She says it was last seen headed toward Duwamish Head, but wants to remind everyone to keep your distance – and especially to keep dogs leashed (they’re not supposed to be on the beach anyway), as this is a contagious disease for which there is no cure. It’s also a risk to other wild birds and has led to Bald Eagle deaths, as reported here recently. Here’s background on the current nationwide situation...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://komonews.com/news/local/mor...-wildlife-snow-geese-skagit-whatcom-snohomish

Suspected bird flu outbreak leads to deaths of 700 birds around Skagit Bay
by KOMO News StaffThursday, December 8th 2022

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning of a suspected avian influenza outbreak among waterfowl after more than 700 birds, most of them juvenile snow geese, were recently found dead around Skagit Bay.

WDFW said Thursday that samples have been taken from the birds for testing for avian influenza more commonly known as bird flu, with the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza suspected. While the strain is very contagious among birds, WDFW said it does not appear to easily infect humans...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.yaktrinews.com/suspected-outbreak-of-bird-flu-in-walla-walla-county-area/

Suspected outbreak of bird flu in Walla Walla County area
According to information from the health department, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sent biologists to an area where a large number of sick or dead waterfowl were found.
Posted: December 30, 2022 4:39 PM
Updated: December 30, 2022 4:58 PM
by Erin Wencl

WALLA WALLA CO., Wash. – The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health confirmed Friday it is investigating a suspected outbreak of bird flu in the area.

According to information from the health department, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sent biologists to an area where a large number of sick or dead waterfowl were found.

Samples were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories to get a confirmation.

Health officials from the state said they suspect the birds were infected with the H5N1 strain, which is highly contagious among the bird population...

 

[Pathfinder]

United States of America - Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Follow up report 63

GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
ZONE

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
OIE-listed

EVENT ID
4247

DISEASE
Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-)

CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
H5N1

START DATE
2021/12/30

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
Recurrence of an eradicated disease

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
2017/03/27

CONFIRMATION DATE
2022/01/13

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE
-

SELF-DECLARATION
NO

REPORT INFORMATION
REPORT NUMBER
Follow-up report 63

REPORT ID
FUR_160686

REPORT REFERENCE
-

REPORT DATE
2023/05/04

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT
-

EPIDEMIOLOGY
SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
migratory waterfowl

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b was confirmed in a wild barn owl (Tyto alba). The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in conjunction with State Animal Health and Wildlife Officials, are conducting comprehensive epidemiological investigations and enhanced surveillance in response to the HPAI H5N1 related events in non-poultry species. Affected population counts are based on estimated inventories from the date the outbreak was first reported to WOAH. According to article 10.4.1.4 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Member Country should not impose bans on the international trade of poultry commodities in response to notification of infection with any Influenza A viruses in birds other than poultry. For updated information about HPAI testing of wild birds in the United States, see: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ou...e-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai.
...
NEW OUTBREAKS

OB_117911 - SKAGIT COUNTY
OUTBREAK REFERENCE
-

START DATE
2022/12/12

END DATE
2022/12/31

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Washington

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Skagit

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
-

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
Not applicable

LOCATION
Skagit County

Latitude, Longitude
48.418 , -122.337

(Approximate location)
OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
-

MEASURING UNIT
Animal

AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
Wild barn owl (Tyto alba). Bird was found dead.

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Barn Owl (Common Barn-Owl) (WILD)
Wild
NEW------
TOTAL------
...

https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4247​