This story has been updated with additional information.
Dozens of bodies of migrating birds — including some that appeared ill and were actively dying — were recovered from a playa lake in Amarillo over the weekend, and avian influenza is the suspected culprit, a local wildlife center said.
A recent increase in the number of birds being found dead prompted health advisories from the City of Amarillo Public Health Department, along with the health department and the city’s Animal Management and Welfare to issue a statement Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 3. Casie Stoughton, director of Amarillo Public Health, and Ty Vernon, assistant director with Animal Management & Welfare, spoke to media and gave information to be directed to the citizens of Amarillo about the possibility of avian influenza in this area.
“The birds have been tested and locally and sent off to be confirmed for the disease within a week or so,” said Stoughton. “The most important take home message is prevention. Although transmission to humans is very rare, we want to reduce the risk.”
Stoughton said that everyone is urged to avoid handling or picking up dead birds or those who are visually sick. If one is sighted, the person should call Animal Management immediately and keep their dog and/or children away from it.
Vernon gave an update on the bird situation. “Amarillo AMW has picked up around 300-350 birds in several different areas in Amarillo,” he said. “We are sending them off for testing and we would recommend citizens keep their dogs on a leash and stay away from any highly populated lakes or parks — anywhere you see water in ponds that attracts water fowl, like ducks or geese.”
Vernon said that results could come as quickly as three to five days. “As you know, birds are coming through this area during migration,” he said. “We have picked up a lot in the last few days.”
‘A heartbreaking reality’
Over the weekend, a post that contained “a heartbreaking reality of winter across the U.S.” was shared on the Facebook page of Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Feb. 1, detailing a scene that unraveled involving Canada geese and other waterfowl at the playa lake on Coulter Drive.
“Sadly, scenes like this are becoming all too common during the winter months. On Sunday, our team was called out to McDonald Lake and witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of an incurable virus — avian influenza,” it read. “Alongside City of Animal Management and Welfare, we collected 239 deceased geese and ducks on Sunday alone. Even more difficult, there were several birds that were still alive but actively dying. In these cases, the kindest and most humane option was euthanasia to end their suffering. These are truly beautiful, magnificent birds, and witnessing this loss never gets easier.”
In a public health advisory posted earlier Tuesday on its website, the Amarillo Public Health department said, “Amarillo Public Health (APH) has received reports that the wild bird population here in the panhandle is being heavily affected by illness attributed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). APH is releasing this health advisory for your situational awareness and protection. HPAI is a severe form of flu that mainly affects large birds such as ducks and geese, but can also affect other animals through prolonged exposure, such as dairy cattle and cats. Humans are also at risk of getting HPAI, especially if in contact with sick birds or animals.”
Stephanie Brady, executive director of the wildlife center, said that Animal Control said they normally pick up a few victims of the avian flu here and there, but nothing of this proportion. “It was mostly (Canada) geese, but some ducks were also among them,” she said of Sunday’s incident.
Brady said that the avian influenza has been around for over 100 years. According to the CDC, the H5N1 bird flu is causing outbreaks in wild birds and poultry, other animals and sporadic human cases. It can also cause outbreaks in dairy cows as well as U.S. poultry.
One of the commenters on the wildlife center’s post, Catherine Custer, wrote, “We’ve had bad bouts of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in flocks in the Midwest of America in 2014/2015. Globally, we’re back at it again with a small amount of people being infected by close contact with birds. … Different parts of the world have different strains like H1N5 or H2N9. Sadly, it’s spread by poor biosecurity, migrating birds, and wind. It can live in even cold water for at least months.”
Other counties within the Texas Panhandle and the South Plains have been recently advising their communities to avoid approaching sick or dead birds such as grounded geese as more possible cases are being seen in the area. According to the Texas Animal Health Commission’s website, a backyard, non-commercial (non-poultry) flock of 13 birds in Carson County tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Jan. 6, and the birds are listed as under quarantine.
In another part of the state in December, the Texas Animal Health Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the presence of HPAI in a commercial poultry flock in Shelby County in east Texas. The commission’s website lists cases dating back to 2022, when the Eurasian H5 strain was first detected in the United States.
Symptoms to look out for in humans and pets, and where to report cases
The Amarillo health department said in its advisory that while transmission to humans is rare, HPAI can cause such symptoms as cough, fever, sore throat, and conjunctivitis (pink eye). Rare cases with severe illness can lead to hospitalization. “If you are concerned that you might be experiencing any illness, you should contact your primary care doctor/practitioner,” the advisory states.
According to Stoughton, if people contract the avian influenza, symptoms are much the same as typical flu symptoms, but one of the key symptoms is conjunctivitis. She said no humans have tested positive locally for the disease so far, nor have any pets.
Being at the height of respiratory season, local providers are equipped to test for influenza and subtype it. Testing can determine if it is Type A or B or the avian influenza strain. According to Stoughton, everyone responds differently to viruses and bacteria.
“If you haven’t had your flu shot, now is a good time to do it,” Stoughton said.
Anyone who has had close contact with a bird that tests positive for the disease or has further questions should contact Amarillo Public Health at 806-378-6353. If you see a bird displaying possible symptoms of avian influenza, contact Animal Management & Welfare at 806-378-9032 to assess sick or dead birds and keep any domestic animals away from the area.
Pets including cats and dogs may be at risk of exposure if they have direct contact with an infected bird. Pet owners are encouraged to keep their pets leashed and away from any sick or dead wildlife. If you suspect your pet has had contact with a sick or dead bird, contact your veterinarian for guidance.
Vernon warned Tuesday that if someone’s dog or cat had interacted with any bird or wildlife that seems sick, that they need to be taken to a veterinarian immediately. Some symptoms can be sneezing, or hesitation to move or even acting like they’re going blind. Vernon said that they had seen similar symptoms in other years, but they have seen an increase in calls this year.
Other signs of illness in pets or birds may include stumbling, twitching, coughing, seizures or not holding their head up. Birds can also just fall from the sky — and not all birds infected with HPAI will show visible symptoms and can instead die suddenly.
Safety tips regarding wild birds
The city’s health department advised the best way to prevent infection is to avoid any contact with sick or dead birds.
The wildlife center also shared these important safety reminders. Please treat all waterfowl and raptors such as owls and hawks that are alive and on the ground as if they are positive for avian influenza. That means:
The health department advised if cannot avoid contact and you have to move a sick or dead bird, make sure you use personal protective equipment including safety goggles, disposable gloves, a respirator or well-fitting mask, rubber boots, and coveralls. And thorough handwashing after any contact is strongly recommended.
When the weather warms up and they start moving, public health and animal department city officials hope the situation will die down.
Who to call to report sick or dead birds:
• Inside city limits: Amarillo Animal Management & Welfare — 806-378-3038
• Outside city limits: Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center — 806-680-2483
“This is an incredibly tough time of year, and we know how heavy this is on everyone’s hearts — especially those on the front lines witnessing this day after day,” the center wrote on Facebook. “Please keep our wildlife, Animal Control officers, and rehabilitation teams in your thoughts.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Avian flu suspected in dead birds found at Amarillo McDonald Lake
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
