Owls Found Dead Of Avian Influenza Pose 'Low Risk' To Humans: CDC

NORTH FORK, NY — Southold resident Paula DiDonato was bird watching on the North Fork recently when she found a dead Great Horned Owl.

"I am heartbroken," she wrote on social media.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation investigated the one adult Great Horned Owl, and two owlet, carcasses that they said where found in the Peconic area on April 4.

DEC sent the specimens to the Cornell University duck research laboratory. DEC received the results, which indicated that all three specimens tested positive for HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, officials told Patch.

Avian influenza is a disease caused by a virus in wild birds such as ducks and geese, gulls, raptors, and shorebirds; it can also affect domestic game birds and poultry such as chickens, turkeys, and other birds, and can spread quickly in affected flocks, DEC explained.

Some AI viruses are more severe than others; those that cause severe disease in poultry are called highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, the type found in Peconic, DEC said.

In early 2022, HPAI was detected in several eastern states. In February 2022, the first case of HPAI in New York was found in Suffolk County in a domestic flock. DEC said it is is working with the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Cornell Wildlife Health program to monitor AI and HPAI in New York.

According to DEC, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.

However, the CDC added, outbreaks in domestic poultry, in addition to infections in wild birds, may result in increased exposures in some groups of people, particularly poultry workers.

While the risk of a person becoming infected is low, DEC said individuals can protect themselves by harvesting only game that appears to be healthy and properly cooking any game meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills the virus.

Those who handle wild birds, particularly waterfowl, gulls, and raptors, should follow precautions such as using personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, and eye protection, and washing hands thoroughly, DEC said.

The public should report dead ducks, geese, swans, waterbirds —including gulls — raptors, pheasants, turkey and grouse, or any group of five or more dead birds in one area to the regional DEC Wildlife office at wildlife.r1@dec.ny.gov or the DEC Wildlife Health Unit at 518-478-2203. For more information, click here.