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Thecurrent avian flu outbreakis suspected of killing more than 200 birds in the last week at Baker’s Lake Forest Preserve in Illinois, authorities said.
Chris Anchor, a wildlife biologist for the Forest Preserves District of Cook County, told theChicago Tribunethat this is the largest outbreak of the avian flu he has observed.
“I’ve never seen anything like this since I started working here 41 years ago,” he said. “Chances are this is happening in other places, and we’re not aware of it because no one is looking.”
The birds are believed to have contracted Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1), which “is highly contagious among birds and can be deadly, especially in domestic poultry,” according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.
The deaths at Baker’s Lake — which is home to one of the most significant heron rookeries in the Midwest — come amid an outbreak of the virus, which has led to over 23 million bird deaths in 24 states, according to theU.S. Department of Agriculture.
Officials believe the current outbreak in the United States is the worst since 2015, when more than 50 million birds died or were euthanized because of the flu, according to theChicago Tribune.
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“There’s always avian flu going around, but this highly pathogenic version of it doesn’t show up often,” Michael P. Ward, senior ornithologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, told the outlet. “It’s usually found with waterfowl in tight areas and can cause a mass mortality event.”
“The recent one is very deadly,” he added. “If the bird gets it, it dies.”
The avian flu outbreak has caused zoos across the country toclose their bird exhibits temporarily.
TheCenters for Disease Control and Preventionsaid the current outbreak is low risk to the general public. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the virus can be transmitted to humans from poultry that is handled and cooked correctly.
source: people.com
