Bird Flu Kills 200 Snow Geese In Eastern PA, Biologists Say

PENNSYLVANIA — Scientists believe that bird flu is responsible for the mass deaths of some 200 snow geese in eastern Pennsylvania in recent days, raising alarm bells on a virus that has continued to rapidly spread since its outbreak began in the United States in Jan. 2022.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said that dead birds were recovered in two locations, Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County and Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County.

"The situation is ongoing as sick wild birds were also observed at both locations," state officials added.

The presence of sick birds means that the virus will continue to spread not only through vultures eating the dead birds, but through sick birds traveling from the site.

The news about the flocks in Pennsylvania comes within days of the Centers for Disease Control announcement on the first known American death from bird flu: a man over 65 in Louisiana.

While bird flu is lethal once it passes over to humans, the likelihood of infection in humans remains very low, and the virus has not yet been observed being passed from person to person, the CDC said.

Of far greater immediate concern is the risk to domestic flocks of poultry. Millions of birds have already been killed in Pennsylvania. "It does have the potential to significantly affect the commercial poultry industry and international trade," the Game Commission added.

Pennsylvania's $7.1 billion poultry industry supports 26,200 jobs, placing the state fourth nationally for poultry production and first overall in organic poultry and egg sales.

Thus far, the virus has not had the same devastating impact on wild birds, but deaths have still been observed in Pennsylvania in hawks, eagles, crows, gulls, ravens, ducks, geese, turkey and grouse.

Signs of infection in sick birds include repeated circling, head tilting, and difficulty flying, biologists said.

In response, state officials are working with the USDA, the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System to monitor for bird flu in flocks across the state. In the past, mass euthanasia of flocks has been carried in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

If you encounter sick or dead wild birds, report them to the Game Commission by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453), or the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852.