A South Carolina duck hunter killed it with a deadly and contagious bird flu. Officials said that the virus has not been confirmed in wild birds in the United States in five years.
Although the flu is not a serious threat to humans, it can quickly spread through poultry houses and other poultry farms.
The Eurasian H5 avian Influenza was detected for the first time by Clemson University researchers, and was confirmed by federal testing.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified global health officials. Officials said that scattered Eurasian H5 infection has been found in 2022, from Portugal to Bulgaria, and two cases were reported in eastern Canada in December.
Anyone with poultry, even backyard farms, should review their practices in order to prevent disease. Michael J. Neault is the State Veterinarian at Clemson University and runs the Livestock Poultry Health Program.
These practices include washing your hands thoroughly before handling wild or domesticated birds, and using gloves and other protective equipment while handling live birds.
Farmers are advised to keep their birds out of areas where ducks and geese roam, clean their cages and coops regularly, and purchase new birds from reliable sources. They should also be kept away from other flock members for 30 day, according to the university.
” “So far, we don’t have any indication that the flu has jumped from wild birds to poultry and that we would like to keep that that way,” Neault stated in a statement.