Bird flu confirmed in waterfowl across multiple Indiana counties

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed on Wednesday that bird flu was the cause of waterfowl deaths in Gibson County last December and is likely behind similar cases reported in 11 other counties.

What we know:

Officials confirmed the virus is suspected to be the cause of death in cases reported in Allen, Benton, Hamilton, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Pike, Porter, Starke, Tippecanoe, and Vermillion counties.

Indiana has documented 98 cases of bird flu in wild waterfowl since 2022. 

The species most affected by the virus include snow geese and Canada geese.

Mute swans, tundra swans, mallards, American white pelicans, common goldeneyes, and double-crested cormorants have also been impacted, officials said. 

Precautions

Why you should care:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advises waterfowl hunters to take a few simple precautions, like wearing gloves and masks while handling birds, processing them in well-ventilated areas or outdoors, and cooking them to an internal temperature of 165°F.

While the CDC says the public health risk is low, it's still possible for people to catch bird flu through direct contact with infected birds.

 If that happens, symptoms might include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and eye irritation within 10 days.

What you can do:

The Indiana DNR is asking residents to report any unusual waterfowl deaths or birds showing signs like sudden death, coordination problems, or swelling. You can easily report these cases online at on.IN.gov/sickwildlife.

If you have pets or farm animals like poultry or livestock, make sure to keep harvested waterfowl away from them and follow good biosecurity practices to keep everyone safe.

The Source: Information from this article was obtained from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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