The Pennsylvania Sport Fee says it suspects avian influenza is accountable for the dying of 200 snow geese within the state.
The company mentioned the geese have been discovered Monday within the Allentown space and recovered from two websites — one in Decrease Nazareth Township in Northampton County and one other in Higher Macungie Township in Lehigh County.
The Sport Fee mentioned sick birds have been additionally noticed at each places.
In line with the company, preliminary testing detected the presence of the extremely pathogenic avian influenza within the lifeless geese. The outcomes are being confirmed by the U.S. Division of Agriculture at their Nationwide Veterinary Providers Laboratories.
Avian influenza has affected wild and home birds in each state for the reason that outbreak began in 2022. Greater than 129 million birds have been impacted within the U.S., together with wild aquatic birds, business poultry and yard or hobbyist flocks, in accordance with the USDA.
The virus has additionally been detected in dairy cows and people. In early December, cat meals was recalled after it was discovered to be contaminated with the virus.
Wild birds are carriers and unfold the virus by means of their feces and saliva. The virus can result in illness or dying in raptors (hawks, eagles), avian scavengers (crows, gulls, ravens), different waterfowl species (geese, geese), and wild poultry (turkey, grouse).
Indicators of an infection in wild birds might embrace neurologic dysfunction corresponding to circling, head tilting and problem flying.
Avian flu is especially contagious and deadly in home poultry. The Pennsylvania Farm Present reintroduced some market poultry competitions this yr after a two-year hiatus.
Anybody who encounters sick or lifeless wild birds can report them to the Pennsylvania Sport Fee by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453), emailing [email protected] or through the use of the web Wildlife Well being Survey instrument.
Any sick or lifeless home birds must be reported to Pennsylvania Division of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. You probably have had contact with sick or lifeless birds and aren’t feeling nicely, contact your major care doctor or the Pennsylvania Division of Well being at 877-724-3258.
This article by Sue Gleiter was first printed by PennLive on 2 January 2025. Lead Picture: The Pennsylvania Sport Fee mentioned lifeless geese have been discovered Monday within the Allentown space and recovered from two websites — one in Decrease Nazareth Township in Northampton County and one other in Higher Macungie Township in Lehigh County. File photograph by Dan Gleiter | [email protected].
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