Avian flu outbreak in North Carolina birds prompts zoo closure, concern from experts

The North Carolina Zoo has closed its aviary to the public following an outbreak of avian flu in the state.

While the transmission of the disease from birds to humans is rare, experts warn that a spread of bird flu in the United States could be detrimental to wildlife reserves, zoos and poultry farms.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, three cases of the flu have been reported as of Jan. 18, 2022. Two cases were found in Colleton County and one from a Northern shoveler duck in Hyde County, North Carolina, which is about 160 miles east of Raleigh. The first case was reported on Jan. 14.

“Wild birds can be infected with HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) and show no signs of illness. They can carry the disease to new areas when migrating,” the USDA said. “The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service anticipates additional wild bird findings as our robust wild bird sampling program continues into the spring.”

The bird flu occurs naturally within waterfowl worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. It’s why the North Carolina Zoo, which has a collection of over 100 exotic birds, isn’t taking any chances.

“Due to the Avian flu being detected in eastern North Carolina, the Zoo’s Aviary is closed to the public as a precautionary measure for protection of our birds until further notice,” the zoo posted on its website for visitors.

All three findings of the infections in North and South Carolina are a strain of the flu known as H5N1 HPAI, which was last reported in the United States in 2016, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

“Closing the Aviary is a preventive, precautionary measure to protect all our bird species at the zoo as the disease can spread very quickly and is often fatal to them,” Dr. J.B Minter, the zoo’s director of animal health, said in a news release.

According to the CDC, the strain of H5N1 can cause infection in birds that harms multiple internal organs and has a mortality rate “up to 90% to 100%, often within 48 hours.” Some birds show no signs of infection at all.

Infected birds can pass on the virus through their saliva, nasal fluid and feces, the CDC says. Birds can become infected if they come in contact with another sick bird, or a surface that the infected bird had contaminated.

The North Carolina Zoo will coordinate with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and the USDA to decide when to reopen the aviary exhibit to the public, and has increased biosecurity for the staff.

“Currently, none of the birds at the Zoo are showing any clinical signs of the disease,” the zoo reported. “The Zoo will immediately test its birds that show any clinical signs of illness, which includes sneezing, coughing, lack of energy and poor appetite.”

As the country monitors the cases of the bird flu, the North Carolina Wildlife Commission is asking citizens to keep an eye out for sick birds.

“If someone comes across a mortality event involving five or more waterbirds or waterfowl, or a mortality event of any size for raptors or avian scavengers, including crows, ravens and gulls, we want to know about them,” Joe Fuller, wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Commission, said in a release. “We are also interested in morbidity events involving any number of those same bird species that are observed with clinical signs consistent with neurological impairment, like swimming in circles, head tilt and lack of coordination.”

Citizens can contact the NC Wildlife Helpline with information at 866-318-2401, email HWI@ncwildlife.org, or call the USDA at 866-536-7593.

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