United States: The state’s environmental and health departments announced Wednesday that bird flu is now spreading across Massachusetts while suspected positive cases exist in all unconfirmed areas.
More about the news
Three state government agencies – the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health along with the Department of Agricultural Resources – stated on Wednesday that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) most likely killed birds whether they were from the wild or from domestic herds throughout various Massachusetts municipalities.
Now, the agencies are urging the public in general to “refrain from handling birds or other animals that are dead or appear sick” and to report immediately after suspecting cases.
“State officials are working with partners to test suspected cases and collaborating with municipalities to safely dispose of dead birds,” the agencies added, USA Today reported.
What more are the experts stating?
The concerned agencies urge the public to stay away from unhealthy or apparently unwell birds or other animals while reporting any suspected cases.
Officials stated that HPAI infection affects both wild and domestic birds, but raptors (birds of prey), along with waterfowl and aquatic birds, show the highest infection chances, yet all bird species remain susceptible to transmission.
As per the news release, “Birds may be infected with HPAI without showing any signs of illness,” and “Birds may be infected with HPAI without showing any signs of illness,”
Officials confirmed that HPAI infections occurred in Massachusetts in early 2022.
Laboratory results indicate that HPAI caused the death of Canada geese together with swans and other unknown birds in Plymouth.
The risk for human infection with avian influenza viruses is low because officials report that people develop this disease only after direct animal contact with HPAI transmission, USA Today reported.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed that there is no person-to-person transmission of the virus while maintaining its assessment of public health dangers at a low level.
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