Bird Flu Detected In Connecticut: What You Need To Know

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued a warning Monday that avian influenza — H5N1, or "bird flu" — has been detected in wild ducks in the state.

As part of their routine surveillance, DEEP scientists first detected the highly pathogenic virus in one New London County duck and 20 ducks in Middlesex County on Feb. 16. Nine more mallards in New Haven County were discovered to be infected on Feb. 23. Connecticut wildlife officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture continue to monitor the situation.

The disease travels as birds migrate into new areas. Over the last five years, low-pathogenic bird flu has been found in Connecticut on three occasions, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

Bird flu has proven dangerous primarily to other birds, and wildlife officials are asking Connecticut bird owners to report anything out of the ordinary with their birds. Anyone who may suspect a bird on their farm may have died from unknown causes should call the state veterinarian at 860-713-2505 or email ctstate.vet@ct.gov. Signs of avian influenza include depression, decreased feed and water consumption, decreased egg production, soft or misshapen eggs, and respiratory indicators such as coughing and sneezing. The USDA has published a guide for poultry farmers with more information on how best to protect their flock.

People can catch bird flu, but when they do, it has almost invariably been from birds and not other people. Its rarity is a boon, as it has shown itself to have a high death rate among those who become ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But an outbreak of bird flu won't have to hurt people to hurt Connecticut. The state ranks second in New England for egg production, and the spread of bird flu in Connecticut can have serious economic consequences. The state Agriculture Department has an emergency response plan that is constantly being updated, should avian influenza be discovered in Connecticut.