Bird Flu – What it Means for You

By Deborah Birge
President, Sugar Land Garden Club
Fort Bend County Master Gardener

From our March newsletter, our club’s president, Deborah Birge gives us insight into the problems caused by the avian bird flu. For early access to these and other informational articles, join the Sugar Land Garden Club so you can get the newsletter delivered to your inbox!

Price of eggs going up

By now we’ve all heard about bird flu (H5N1) and the price of eggs. Of course, this is not news. Chicken farmers have been culling entire barns of hens since 2022 because of bird flu. The Houston Chronicle estimates since 2022, over 160 million have been killed. Now our government has stated a desire to change the approach of controlling bird flu in hopes of saving some egg farms. But what does this mean to you other than the price of eggs? Let’s take a look.

What is it?

Bird Flu is an influenza type A virus that occurs naturally in wild water birds, including ducks, geese, terns, gulls, etc. Mild forms of avian influenza, known as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) often live in the intestines of water birds but do not cause serious illness.

When a strain mutates or mixes with other flu viruses it can become a more severe virus or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). HPAI can cause 75-100% of infected ducks, chickens and turkeys, as well as some wild birds to die in 48 hours.

The current outbreak of H5N1 has spread into dairy cattle, domestic cats and dogs, many species of wildlife, over 142 species of wild birds including raptors, and 70 people with one death. The Houston Chronicle reports that in Texas, there have been 1.9 million chickens and 27 cows infected. California has 23.7 million chickens and 747 cows; in Minnesota the count is now beyond 9.1 million birds.

How is it spread?

Infected birds (whether showing symptoms or not) can shed the virus in saliva, ocular, nasal or oral secretions, and feces. Avian influenza can be transmitted in three ways:

1. Direct contact – handling an infected animal, drinking raw milk from an infected cow.
2. Indirect contact (e.g. contaminated surfaces) – bird feeders, walking in wild bird feces or an infected animal’s feces or mucus. Rodents and insects can also spread viral particles.
3. Inhalation – the virus particles can remain suspended in the air and be inhaled or can form droplets that are deposited onto surfaces.

The consumption of raw foods, including raw milk and raw milk products, poses known risks of transmission and should be avoided by domestic animals and people. This includes raw food for pets.

How do we treat it?

In the past, if one chicken is found ill or if one sick wild bird is found in a hen barn, all chickens, ducks and turkeys on the property are “depopulated”. That’s federal-speak for killed and destroyed. This has resulted in millions of chickens per month being destroyed. This of course has resulted in higher egg prices, but you’ll soon notice the price of chicken meat moving upward also. Most broiler barns are closed units but with this highly transmittable virus, barns must step up biosecurity measures. This is neither easy nor quickly done.

What plans are being discussed?

The plans are vague and include a number of “looking at”, “discussing”, and “exploring”. One issue is the flu vaccination for chickens. A vaccine has just been approved but egg farmers are resistant because once vaccinated, the bird will test positive for bird flu. This will exclude that farmer’s production from being shipped outside the US.

To add to the issue, only authorized veterinarians can administer the shot so the backlog of attaining the vaccination for your flock and the cost can be prohibitive. Finally, there is concern the vaccine will mask flu symptoms making outbreaks harder to identify.

Another plan is to increase biosecurity. Everyone entering a barn must wear designated footwear only for that barn and be sanitized. You can see the full list of requirements here, https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2023/02/09/what-is-avian-influenza/

What are the big concerns?

Put very simply, there is a concern about this influenza impacting our food supply other than eggs and chickens. If the virus can be kept out of the swine population, there is less chance of a new, more virulent strain being produced. If that strain does produce, it can affect the human population in ways we can only imagine.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Despite the virus’s wide spread among waterfowl and raptors, songbirds have a relatively low risk of contracting avian flu. Only 3% of reported wild bird cases involved songbirds, according to USDA APHIS surveillance data. These birds do not shed large amounts of the virus and thus aren’t significant contributors to the
disease’s spread. Therefore, unless you keep domestic poultry, there’s no need to remove bird feeders. However, cleaning bird feeders and baths regularly will reduce the risk even more:

1. Clean weekly.
2. Clean with diluted bleach or vinegar.
3. Scrub off all stuck-on matter.

Precautions for backyard chicken owners

While the risk to songbirds remains low, it is essential for those of us with chickens to prevent any potential cross-contamination between wild birds and our flock.
Some key measures include:

1. Making food and water inaccessible to wild birds.
2. Keeping chickens enclosed or separated from wild birds.
3. Practicing strict hygiene, including washing hands and changing clothes before tending the chicken pen.
4. Removing bird feeders or keeping them far from the chicken pen is recommended.

Conclusion

The outbreak of avian influenza, while concerning, poses a low risk to most wild songbirds and does not significantly threaten public health. For those who keep poultry, implementing biosecurity measures is crucial in preventing potential transmission. Always stay informed by following guidance from trusted sources like the CDC and USDA, and take the necessary precautions to protect both wildlife and your flock.

sources

Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Fact Sheet
Center for Disease Control, Avian Influenza in Birds: Causes and How it Spreads.
The Houston Chronicle, White House plots new strategy on bird flu, Steve Karnowski
The Houston Chronicle, Agriculture Department tries to rehire fired workers, Josh Funk
The Houston Chronicle, Bird flu outbreak a test for new U.S. ag leader, James Osborne