Avian influenza (bird flu)

Please report sick or dead birds suspected of having avian influenza.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is active in Washington this waterfowling season. Hunters, falconers, and others who regularly handle wild ducks and geese are recommended to take measures to protect themselves, their birds, and their dogs. This includes not eating or feeding raw or frozen game meat to dogs or birds as freezing does not kill the virus. Eating cooked meat is safe. More safety precautions are below or on the Washington Department of Health website.

The Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) in May of 2022 confirmed the presence of avian influenza in several backyard flocks across Washington State. WDFW has since confirmed cases of the disease in wild birds. Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect poultry and other bird and animal species. Wild aquatic birds include ducks, geese, swans, gulls and terns, and shorebirds. Avian influenza A viruses are contagious among birds through saliva, nasal secretions, feces, and contaminated surfaces. They are classified into two categories: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). LPAI viruses cause either no signs of disease or mild disease while HPAI can sicken and kill domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, and turkey.

The USGS maps confirmed cases of avian influenza in North America and this U.S. Department of Agriculture web page shows federally-confirmed cases by state. 

HPAI outbreaks past and present

In March 2022 the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reported the confirmed presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, H5 variant, in a wild bald eagle found in Vancouver, British Columbia. This is the first confirmed report of HPAI virus in the Pacific Flyway since 2015. The strain of HPAI virus found in the eagle is thought to be the same clade (a group of organisms composed of a common ancestor) as what has currently been found in the other North American Flyways (Central, Mississippi, Atlantic), and is the same strain that has been circulating in Europe in 2021 and 2022. 

The first confirmed cases of HPAI in wild birds in the United States were in falcons and ducks in Washington State’s Whatcom County in December 2014. Though HPAI had been found in domestic poultry previously, this was the first detection in a wild bird. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) tests birds for bird flu viruses as funding to do so is available. From 2005 to 2011, WDFW tested over 10,000 wild birds. Viruses were found in about 10 percent of all birds tested, but none were associated with any illness or mortality in the sampled birds. 

More recently, in the summer of 2021 and winter of 2021/22, WDFW and federal partners, including the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Services, tested over 700 wild birds. Initially, none were found to have HPAI viruses until spring of 2022. 

Human HPAI safety

The Washington State Department of Health has extensive information on avian influenza on its' website. Bird flu viruses are not easily transmissible from birds to people, but without proper hygiene, or if in prolonged contact with a sick bird, the risk increases and the virus can potentially evolve to spread between humans. While it is extremely unlikely that hunters or people feeding wild birds could contract bird flu, the following common-sense precautions are recommended to reduce the risk of contracting any wildlife disease: 

  • Wear disposable gloves when cleaning harvested birds or cleaning bird feeders. 

  • Do not dispose of processed carcasses in the field where they could be eaten by raptors. Bag them and place in the garbage, bury, or incinerate them. 

  • Take special precautions to ensure that all equipment (boots, clothes, vehicles, firearms) are cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of diseases. 

  • Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead. 

  • Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning game. 

  • Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. 

  • Wash tools and work surfaces used to clean game birds with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10 percent solution of chlorine bleach. 

  • Separate raw meat, and anything it touches, from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination. 

  • Cook game birds thoroughly. Meat should reach an internal temperature of 155 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill disease organisms and parasites. 

If you experience flu-like symptoms following contact with birds, contact your local health department. They can provide public health guidance and initiate symptom monitoring. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend getting a seasonal flu vaccine every year. This will decrease the likelihood of being infected with human seasonal flu and bird flu at the same time. Additional animal and human health and safety information regarding avian influenza is on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website. 

HPAI questions answered

WDFW put together a blog post of common questions and answers regarding transmission of avian influenza. You can also view the presentation below if you have additional questions. It is from a webinar WDFW partnered on with the Seattle Audubon Society and the Washington State Department of Agriculture.