Bird Flu Confirmed in New London County Backyard Flock, Authorities Respond
Both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Health in Connecticut have confirmed that there have been cases of bird flu reported in the state.
A backyard flock in New London County, Connecticut, was found to have Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on Wednesday, January 15. This information was provided by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
The flock that was kept in the backyard consisted of peacocks, hens, and ducks. They were kept as pets by the family rather than as commercial poultry, and were in close proximity to wild waterfowl that were found in a local pond.
The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory served as the recipient of the samples that were sent for examination.
The findings from the laboratory were subsequently validated by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory of the United States Department of Agriculture, which is located in Ames, Iowa State.
However, there is currently neither an effective treatment nor a vaccine that has been licensed for the H5N1 virus in poultry. According to officials from the state’s health department, the virus is highly contagious among domestic fowl.
It was reported that the sick flock had been depopulated in order to prevent the disease from spreading further.
“Collaboration between state and federal partners is essential in preventing the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry and safeguarding the health of our farmworkers,” Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt stated. “Through a united approach we are able to swiftly identify and respond to protect our food supply and ensure the health of our communities.”
In order to safeguard their backyard and commercial poultry flocks against bird flu, it was recommended to all poultry owners and producers that they strengthen their biosecurity practices.
“Biosecurity is the best defense for a flock owner to protect their birds from disease,” state veterinarian Dr. Thamus Morgan stated. “This should be top of mind for commercial and backyard hobby owners – we must all work together – to reduce the risk.”
The symptoms of an H5N1 infection include a sudden increase in the number of bird deaths, sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, diarrhea that is watery or green in color, a lack of energy, a poor appetite, a decrease in egg production, swelling around the eyes, neck, and head, and a purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs.
Health officials reported that the risk to human health remained low.
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They stated that there has been no detection of H5N1 spreading from person to person up to this point, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have continued to evaluate the risk to the general public as being as low as possible.
“The current risk of infection from H5N1 to residents of Connecticut still remains low. While we have no evidence of human-to-human transmission at this time, we need to remain vigilant,” Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani stated. “The CDC is currently monitoring numerous H5N1 cases throughout the country and tracking the spread of the virus in states where it has been identified in people or animals.”
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The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s website has further information about bird flu.