New Online Platform Unveiled To Report Avian Influenza In Wild Birds

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LONG ISLAND, NY —A new, online platform has been launched so that the public can report suspected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, in wild birds.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced the online platform, which was designed as part of an ongoing effort to monitor HPAI in New York.

"Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, DEC is working closely with our state agency and federal partners to monitor incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza affecting wild birds and the threat it can pose for domestic animals," said Interim Commissioner Mahar. "I encourage New Yorkers to use this web-based tool to provide DEC with real-time information about locations of suspected outbreaks wherever and whenever they occur."

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball added: "Early detection of HPAI is key to preventing its spread. DEC’s new reporting tool will help us understand how HPAI is impacting wild birds, so we can find it quickly and take further action to keep it contained. I encourage New Yorkers to keep an eye out for sick or dead wild birds and use this tool to assist in New York State’s joint response. I’m also reminding our citizens who own backyard poultry flocks to monitor their animals for illness, unexplained deaths, or sudden drops in egg production."

If any of these signs are present, individuals are asked to contact the DEC's Division of Animal Industry immediately by calling 518-457-3502 or emailing dai@agriculture.ny.gov

"Working together, we make sure that we are catching HPAI early and doing everything we can protect our animals, farmers, and public health," he said.

The entire flock at Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue recently had to be culled after an avian influenza outbreak.

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said: "We continue to remain vigilant and monitor for highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in New York State. This new web-based tool allows for rapid response to reports of sick birds, further protecting public health. While there are no human cases of highly pathogenic avian Influenza, we will continue to monitor these detections and work closely with our state and local partners to prevent the spread of the virus."

HPAI continues to infect birds and mammals across the United States and Canada, including New York. The first detection of HPAI in New York State was in a backyard poultry flock in Suffolk County in February 2022, the DEC said.

Since 2022, HPAI has been detected in free-ranging wild birds and wild mammals throughout the state and in captive birds in several counties.

The new link for reporting observations can be found on DEC’s website.

Once a report is received, the DEC’s field response is guided by the report’s details, including the number of sick or dead birds, bird species, and observations from new areas where HPAI has not yet been documented, officials said.

Of particular interest are reports of suspected outbreaks in all species of waterfowl, raptors, crows, shorebirds, and other waterbirds such as gulls, loons, and herons. These species are known HPAI vectors, particularly vulnerable to the disease, when testing can help DEC track HPAI prevalence on the landscape.

HPAI is widespread in wild birds and mammals, so not all reports will result in the DEC retrieving the animals for testing and/or disposal

The public can help minimize risk and limit disease spread by preventing contact between domestic animals and wild birds, the DEC said.

In cases where DEC field staff are not responding to collect samples or carcasses from the landscape, the public should limit contact with dead wildlife and keep domestic animals away. If removal of carcasses is deemed necessary, the public is reminded to wear disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection. Individuals should avoid direct contact with the carcass or carcass fluids by using a shovel and washing hands and clothing immediately after with soap and hot water. Carcasses should be triple bagged (garbage or contractor bags) and placed in an outdoor trash receptacle.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that recent HPAI detections in birds pose a low risk to the public, the DEC said.

While there is likely little risk for the public, people with close or prolonged unprotected contact with infected birds or virus-contaminated environments are at greater risk of infection.

HPAI is caused by an influenza type A virus that is carried by free-flying waterfowl and other waterbirds such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds, but can also infect domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, raptors, corvids, including crows and ravens, and mammals, the DEC said.

Recently, there have been a number of cases in dairy cattle in several states. Some infected wild birds can carry these viruses without getting sick, but domestic poultry and many species of wild birds get sick and often die from these viruses. Songbirds and other passerine birds do not appear to be highly susceptible to infection, the DEC said.