H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Waterfowl Discovered in Southwest Louisiana

Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported on October 31, 2022, that the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus, or bird flu, was detected in blue-winged teal in Southwest Louisiana.

H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), generally known as bird flu, has been verified in hunter-harvested blue-winged teal in southwest Louisiana by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory. In addition, some captive birds in northeast Louisiana have died from HPAI.

HPAI has been found in wild birds, domestic poultry, or both in 49 states, killing about 3,000 wild birds and nearly 48 million domestic birds (poultry). Waterfowl can get sick and die from the disease, but many birds are carriers and show no clinical indications. LDWF frequently analyzes reports of sick or dead birds if a considerable number of birds are affected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers H5N1 HPAI to be a minimal risk to public health. While the virus poses little danger to people, it is critical to prevent contact with infected birds. Also, keep in mind that hunting equipment may carry the infection. If you hunt waterfowl and have backyard poultry, plan for additional biosecurity precautions to keep your flock healthy (http://www.bah.state.mn.us/media/HPAI-Notice-Backyard-Final.pdf).

The following are some general safety guidelines for hunters and those who work with wildlife and their tissues:

• Do not handle or eat sick game.
• Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• Wear rubber or disposable nitrile gloves while handling and cleaning game.
• When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant and clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that were exposed to game with hot soapy water and a 10% bleach solution.
• Do not eat, drink or consume tobacco products while handling animals.
• All game should be cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 165° F.
• Avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds.
• Hunters should not feed organs, viscera or carcasses to retrievers or leave carcasses to be consumed by other wildlife.

Other safety precautions include:

• As a general rule, observe wild birds from a distance, do not attempt to handle wild animals. Avoid contact with domestic birds (poultry) that appear ill or have died.
• People who work with poultry and wild birds should receive the annual influenza (flu) vaccine. This action reduces the potential for genetic changes in avian influenza, which may render the virus more apt to infect people, thus increasing the potential of pandemic influenza.

Contact LDWF State Veterinarian Dr. James LaCour at [email protected] or LDWF Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Rusty Berry at [email protected] for further information.