January 2008
About Avian Influenza
Many people have questions about the bird flu that has been covered in the media over the past several years. Different types of bird flu are common throughout the world, but the current strain of concern is known as the Asian strain of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza.
To date, this type of avian influenza has not been detected in the United States or anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. The virus does not easily infect people and rarely spreads from human to human. Human cases of this type of avian influenza have occurred in countries where people have daily close contact with domestic poultry and poultry excrement.
Department Monitoring
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is currently working along with other state and federal agencies to monitor waterfowl for the early detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. We are working on two separate studies aimed at gathering information on the occurrence of avian influenza viruses in Arizona’s wild migratory birds.
The first study, funded by a subdivision of USDA APHIS (Wildlife Services), consists of hunter-harvested surveillance. Testing hunter-harvested birds allows us to monitor the status of the avian influenza viruses in healthy bird populations. In October 2006, biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department Research Branch began operating hunter check stations at Cibola and Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuges to collect waterfowl samples for the testing of avian influenza.
In the spring of 2008, we will be starting another study funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For this study, we will begin sampling sick and dead waterfowl for avian influenza, as an extension of our early detection surveillance program. During the spring migration period (March-May), we will be surveying various lakes throughout the state for sick or dead waterfowl.
Reporting Hotline and Online Reporting Form
We can use the public’s help in this spring's important monitoring program. If, while visiting any lake in Arizona, you see any sick or dead wetland birds (ducks, geese or shorebirds) or raptors (hawks, eagles or owls), please report your observations by calling the the toll-free hotline number at
1-877-97-AVIAN (1-877-972-8426).
You can also report your observations by filling out the online reporting form at the link below:
http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=876828
Safety Recommendations
In the meantime, hunters and others who handle birds should continue to follow reasonable safety recommendations for this virus and other diseases that affect wildlife, including:
- Don’t harvest or handle birds that are obviously sick, abnormally tame or found dead.
- Wear rubber gloves when cleaning game or bird feeders.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when cleaning game or bird feeders.
- Wash hands carefully with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game. Then disinfect tools and work surfaces with a 10-percent chlorine bleach solution.
- Cook birds thoroughly to kill disease organisms and parasites.
Resources
The most current information about this type of avian influenza can be found at Web sites that are regularly monitored and updated, including:
Arizona information about this type of avian influenza is available by calling:
- Arizona Department of Health Services (for human health related questions)
(602) 364-4500 or (800) 314-9243
- Arizona Department of Agriculture (for poultry related questions)
(888) 742-5334
This information about highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was prepared on January 7, 2008. Conditions surrounding this type of bird flu are frequently changing, so please seek the most current information through updates on regularly monitored Web sites, including the federal government’s www.pandemicflu.gov. |
