HPAI Bird Flu Detected In Wild Bird In Napa County

NAPA COUNTY, CA — A wild bird in Napa County has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, county officials said.

The risk to the general public in Napa County is very low at this time, but residents are reminded to avoid direct contact with wild birds, particularly birds that appear ill or are dead, the county said Tuesday in a news release.

HPAI is a viral disease that occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds, such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls and terns; and shorebirds, such as storks, plovers and sandpipers. HPAI can infect domestic poultry, other birds, animal species, and humans.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, HPAI virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock.

As of Tuesday, HPAI has been detected in commercial and domestic bird flocks in Sacramento, Butte, Contra Costa, Tuolumne and Fresno counties. In addition to Napa County, HPAI has been detected in wild birds in 13 California counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus and Yolo.

In nearby Sonoma County, the virus was found in late July in five Canada geese and in early August in three turkey vultures, according to the USDA. In Solano County, it was found in late July in two American white pelicans and one mute swan. In Yolo County, the virus was found in late August in one Canada goose.

Napa County officials advised keepers of commercial and domestic flocks to adhere to the following biosecurity recommendations to help protect their flocks from HPAI:

• 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.

The county encouraged community members to report any unusual or suspicious numbers of sick or dead domestic birds immediately to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-2473, and to report any unusual or suspicious dead wild birds online to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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. The Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s website also has updates and information on HPAI.