State health department confirms avian flu in North Shore wild duck
Nov 25, 2024
HONOLULU (KHON2) -- State health department officials confirmed a second case of avian flu was found in a wild duck on Oahu's North Shore.
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According to officials, the hybrid duck which is part mallard, was sampled for the disease along with ten other wild ducks from the North Shore.
Multiple agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources and USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, remain surveilling birds around the state.
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The virus was first confirmed at a bird sanctuary in Wahiawa and officials said it may be spreading through the wild bird population.
"The State Department of Agriculture focused its efforts at that duck sanctuary where the outbreak started, but it wasn't the fault of the duck sanctuary," said Dr. Brian Walsh, Feathers & Fur Animal Hospital medical director. "It was brought in by presumptive is migratory birds, as that's typically how it spread across the world."
Hawaii was the last state in the nation to detect HPAI. Currently, 70 birds have been put down and disposed of due to avian influenza.
Officials continue to urge poultry, backyard and pet owners to keep their animals away from wild birds. Feeding wild birds is also discouraged.
Even though avian influenza in humans is usually mild, health officials urge the public to remain on the lookout if they experience symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or pink eye.
"It's rare to jump to humans. So of all the exposures and there's been a lot of people with direct exposure and they never get sick. So it's rare too that it does jump to humans but the worry is that it could mutate down the road and become more aggressive," Walsh added.
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For more information on avian flu, visit the Hawaii Department of Health's website.