City of Dover issued the following announcement on April 8.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game reported on April 6 that dead Canada geese found near the Bellamy River in late February and early March died from avian influenza.
There are no current reports or suspected reports of fowl succumbing to avian influenza; the last reports were about three weeks ago, if not longer, said New Hampshire Fish and Game Wildlife Division Chief Dan Bergeron.
The influenza strain was identified as Eurasian H5, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Bergeron stressed the risk of transmission of avian influenza to humans is “very low,” and there have been only a handful of documented cases globally – none in the United States.
However, avian influenza can be a risk to domestic poultry, including backyard chickens. The state and federal agriculture departments urge those who have domestic poultry or come in contact with domestic poultry to exercise caution.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends those with domestic poultry, such as chickens, ensure domestic animals do not come in contact with wild birds or their fecal and secretions. They also urge domestic animal owners to avoid accidentally transporting wild bird fecal matter on boots, clothing and gloves back to their domestic birds.
Bellamy River kayakers reported the dead wild geese in February, Bergeron said. The birds were found near Fish and Game-owned land on the Bellamy River, just south of Portsmouth Christian Academy. Bergeron said a handful of dead wild geese were also found across Great Bay. New Hampshire Fish and Game collected and disposed of 70 dead geese found over several weeks.
A handful of birds were collected and submitted for testing, Bergeron said. The United States Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of HPAI. The findings from the University of New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and the United States Geological Survey’s Wildlife Health Center indicated HPAI as the likely cause of death.
While avian influenza was detected soon after the dead birds were found, it was only this week that it was determined that HPAI was the likely cause of death. Bergeron said that wildlife can harbor the virus without dying from it, and biologists wanted to make sure the deaths were not from a toxin, such as lead poisoning.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recommends that hunters and others who handle wild birds take precautions to protect themselves and the domestic birds they may encounter from this virus. Precautionary steps include wearing gloves while handling birds, not handling obviously sick or dead birds, washing tools and work surfaces with soap and water, and avoiding cross-contamination between wild birds and domestic ones. USDA also recommends taking in bird feeders to help prevent the spread of the virus, particularly if you have domestic poultry.
For more information about Eurasian H5 HPAI, contact USDA APHIS at 508-363-2290 or visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/defend-the-flock-ai-wild-birds.
For information about Eurasian H5 and its impact on wild bird species in New Hampshire, contact the NH Fish and Game Department at 603-271-3421 or visit https://wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/avian-flu.html.
The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture Markets and Food has an avian influenza fact sheet available here (PDF format).
For information about Eurasian H5 impacting New Hampshire domestic bird species, contact the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, Division of Animal Industry, State Veterinarian, Steve Crawford, 603-271-2404 or stephen.k.crawford@agr.nh.gov.
Original source can be found here.
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