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#USA, Snow #Geese Test Presumptive Positive for Avian #H5 #Influenza; #Delaware #poultry producers encouraged to take precautions

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By G.M.

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DOVER, Del. (Dec. 28, 2024) – The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) announced today that laboratory testing conducted by the University of Delaware’s Allen Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, has returned presumptive positive findings of H5 avian influenza in sick and dead snow geese collected on December 27, 2024, in coastal Sussex County. 

In response to the findings, the state of Delaware has established a Joint Information Center with DNREC, DDA, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA).

The detections mark the Delmarva region’s most recent confirmation of H5 avian influenza in wild birds since May 2022, when the virus was found through wildlife surveillance in black vultures in Harford County, Md. Avian influenza is known to be carried by wild birds, especially waterfowl, raptors, and vultures.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds through nasal and eye secretions and manure. Snow geese, which are waterfowl, are known to migrate from the Arctic and form large flocks in Delaware each winter. Due to close contact with thousands of other snow geese while feeding and roosting, they can get sick and die. It is unknown when or where the snow geese may have acquired the virus given their highly migratory nature and association with other waterfowl and waterbirds throughout the Atlantic Flyway through which they travel into Delaware and more southern states.

People should not touch or handle injured, sick, or dead birds. Special attention should be paid to keep pets and children away from these wild birds and bird droppings.

Even with the ongoing detections of HPAI in wild birds, poultry, and dairy cattle in North America, continuing testing of people who are in close contact with infected animals indicates a low risk to the general public’s health. The H5N1 virus has infected very few people and has not been documented to be transmitted between people. The proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165°F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

(...)

Source: Department of Health, https://news.delaware.gov/2024/12/28/snow-geese-test-presumptive-positive-for-avian-influenza-delaware-poultry-producers-encouraged-to-take-precautions/

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