Highly Contagious Bird Flu Confirmed In Boston's Emerald Necklace

BOSTON, MA — Highly contagious bird flu has reared its ugly head in Boston's Emerald Necklace, the city' public health commission warned.

"Highly pathogenic avian flu, or bird flu, has been confirmed in the Emerald Necklace," the Boston Public Health Commission posted to its Facebook page.

"Risk of human infection is currently low," the post said. "As always, please do not feed, touch, or remove birds from Boston parks."

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Avian flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is "causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with sporadic human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The severity of illness associated with bird flu has ranged from mild to severe, including death," the CDC said, but most cases "have been mild, so far, and most were in people who had known exposure to sick or infected animals."

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Bird flu symptoms vary.

"Eye redness has been the predominant symptom among recent U.S. cases of avian influenza A(H5) virus infection," the CDC said. "Respiratory symptoms and fever were also reported."

Report sick, injured or dead birds to the state or call by calling 311.

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