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Avian Bird Flu on Cape Cod

Published on: April 17, 2024

ATTENTION BEACH WALKERS!

If you encounter a dead bird while walking or collecting trash at the beach, you should first notify your town’s Animal Control Officer for next steps. You should never attempt to dispose of a bird carcass without wearing disposable gloves, a face mask, and eye protection. Following safe collection with appropriate personal protective equipment, the carcass should be double-bagged prior to placement in a regular garbage receptacle.

Please read the information below to learn more about Avian Bird Flu.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as ‘bird flu’ was first found on Cape Cod in the beginning of February 2022, a little more than two years ago. While the disease does NOT pose an immediate health threat to people, it does spread easily among wild and domestic birds, including poultry.

Here’s what you should know.

What is bird flu?
Can people get bird flu?
I have a backyard poultry flock. Should I be concerned about bird flu? What are symptoms to watch for?
How do I report sick or dead poultry in my flock?
My pet found a dead bird and carried it in their mouth. Could they become infected with bird flu? Could they infect me or my family?
What should I do if I suspect I may have been exposed to bird flu?
I found a sick/injured wild bird on Cape Cod. Who should I contact?
I found a dead wild bird on Cape Cod. Who should I contact?
Key Takeaways
Additional Resources and Information

What is Bird Flu?

Bird Flu is a disease caused by certain Type A flu viruses that usually spreads between birds, NOT people. Some of these viruses can cause serious illness and death in domestic poultry including chicken, ducks, and turkeys. Avian influenza A viruses have been isolated from more than 100 different species of wild birds around the world. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds and shorebirds (ducks, geese, swans, gulls, terns, storks, plovers, and sandpipers) worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

Wild birds can be infected with avian flu viruses without getting sick. However, they can shed avian influenza viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible domesticated birds become infected when they have contact with the virus as it is shed by infected birds.

Can people get bird flu?

People rarely get bird flu, but when they do, it’s most often through prolonged unprotected contact (failure to use gloves, eye protection, or a facemask/respirator) with infected birds. People can become infected by breathing the virus in droplets in the air or possibly dust, or by touching surfaces contaminated with infected bird mucous, saliva, or feces and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Most bird flu infections in people have happened after close, prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. No human bird flu infections have been reported from proper handling of poultry meat or from eating properly cooked poultry or poultry products.

Overall, the risk to the public from bird flu outbreaks is low; however, because bird flu viruses have been known to infect people sporadically (again, people who were known to have prologued, unprotected exposure to infected birds), it is possible that human infections with these viruses could occur. It is important to note there has been no known human-to-human spread of bird flu.

CDC Infographic: How Infected Backyard Poultry Could Spread Bird Flu to People

I have a backyard poultry flock. Should I be concerned about bird flu? What are symptoms to watch for?

You should be vigilant about protecting your flock, and/or any domestic avian pets, from bird flu.

Bird flu can affect wild or domesticated birds. Most poultry, including chickens, turkeys, guinea
fowl, and game birds like pheasants will die within days of exposure; wild and domestic ducks
and some other species can be infected without ever appearing sick. Domestic poultry are exposed to bird flu through contact with infected birds, their droppings, or feathers. Pastures, yards, ponds, and
equipment easily become contaminated with the virus. Humans can expose domestic birds to infection through use of contaminated equipment, clothing and footwear, and vehicle tires.

Infected poultry, and possibly pet birds, may show one or more of the following signs:

Sudden death with no prior signs
Low energy or appetite
Purple discoloration or swelling of various body parts
Reduced egg production, or soft-shelled/misshapen eggs
Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing
Lack of coordination
Diarrhea

If you develop any of these signs or symptoms during the 10-days after your exposure to an infected or potentially infected animal, call the MA Dept. of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at (617) 983-6800. The on-call epidemiologist is available during normal business hours for emergencies and to answer questions regarding case investigation and implementation of control measures. If testing is recommended, isolate as much as possible until test results come back and/or you have recovered from your illness.

Mass.gov Infographic: Protecting your Backyard Flock

Information from the American Veterinary Medical Association: Avian Influenza in Pets and Backyard Flocks

How do I report sick or dead poultry in my flock?

Immediately call the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Animal Health Division at (617) 626-1795. You can also submit the following poultry disease reporting form online: P oultry Disease Reporting Form | Mass.gov.

My pet found a dead bird and carried it in their mouth. Could they become infected with bird flu? Could they infect me or my family?

Although bird flu viruses mainly infect and spread among wild migratory water birds and domestic poultry, some bird flu viruses can infect and spread to other animals as well. Bird flu viruses have in the past been known to sometimes infect mammals that eat (presumably infected) birds or poultry, including but not limited to wild animals, such as seals, bears, foxes, skunks; farmed mink; stray or domestic animals, such as cats and dogs; and zoo animals, such as tigers and leopards.

If your domestic animals (e.g., cats or dogs) go outside and could potentially eat or be exposed to sick or dead birds infected with bird flu viruses, or an environment contaminated with bird flu virus, they could become infected with bird flu. While it’s unlikely that you would get sick with bird flu through direct contact with your infected pet, it is possible.

For more information visit: Bird Flu in Pets and Other Animals | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)

What should I do if I suspect I may have been exposed to bird flu? What are the signs and symptoms of bird flu in humans?

People who have had direct contact with infected or potentially infected animals, including sick animals that might have eaten bird flu-infected birds, should monitor their health for fever and symptoms of infection.

Signs and Symptoms may include:

Fever (Temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or greater) or feeling feverish/chills*
Cough
Sore throat
Difficulty breathing/Shortness of breath
Conjunctivitis (eye tearing, redness, irritation, or discharge from eye)
Headaches
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Diarrhea

*Fever may not always be present.

If you develop any of these signs or symptoms during the 10-days after your exposure to an infected or potentially infected animal, call the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences Division of Epidemiology at (617) 983-6800. The on-call epidemiologist is available during normal business hours for emergencies and to answer questions regarding case investigation and implementation of control measures. Discuss your potential exposure and ask about testing. If testing is recommended, isolate as much as possible until test results come back and/or you have recovered from your illness.

I found a SICK/INJURED wild bird on Cape Cod. Who should I contact?

Cape Wildlife Center is a veterinary hospital in Barnstable that provides rehabilitative care to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. Call for immediate assistance and wildlife emergencies: (508) 362-0111. Admissions hours are between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM daily. Afterhours emergency line: (617) 835-6845.

Wild Care, Inc. is a wildlife rehabilitation center in Eastham that treats injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife for release: If you find an animal in distress, call: (508) 240-2255. Wild Care, Inc. is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

I found a DEAD wild bird on Cape Cod. Who should I contact?

MassWildlife is collecting information on wild birds to monitor possible outbreaks of Avian Influenza. They are particularly interested in sick/dead seabirds washing up along coastal areas. Please click the following link to complete an online form and include a photo if possible: Report observations of dead wild birds | Mass.gov.

PLEASE NOTE: An individual dead wild bird does not generally require testing or removal. However, removal/disposal of dead birds from the environment is a good practice to help reduce environmental contamination and potential exposure to other birds and mammals. No single entity is responsible for the removal/disposal of dead birds; it is dependent on the municipality and the landowner.

For information about how to safely dispose of a dead bird or animal, please visit: Found a Dead Wild Bird? Here’s What To Do Next (usda.gov).

Key Takeaways

While bird flu does NOT pose an immediate health threat to people, it does spread easily among wild and domestic birds, including poultry.
Overall, the risk to the public from bird flu outbreaks is low; however, bird flu viruses have been known to infect people sporadically following close, prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces.
No human bird flu infections have been reported from proper handling of poultry meat or from eating properly coo ked poultry or poultry products.
Backyard poultry CAN become infected with bird flu through exposure to infected wild animals or surfaces contaminated by infected wild animals. If you suspect one of your birds has bird flu or has died from becoming infected with bird flu, immediately call the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Animal Health Division at (617) 626-1795.
Keep your pets away from dead birds and animals to prevent exposure.
Never handle a dead bird or animal with our taking appropriate precautions.