Bird Flu Advisory Issued For Bucks Co. Parks

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The Bucks County Parks and Recreation Department has issued an advisory following an outbreak of bird flu at county parks.

The Langhorne-based parks and recreation department said on Friday that parks are experiencing an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu.

The virus affects wild birds, poultry, and sometimes mammals, including dogs and cats. HPAl rarely affects humans.

County officials are offering these suggestions to anyone visiting a park this weekend:

• Never approach or handle wildlife in parks, or allow pets near wildlife.
• Dogs are required to be kept on a 6ft leash in county parks.
• If you feel sick after being around wild animals, call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
• To report sick or dead wildlife t o the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), call 1-833-PGC-WILD.
• To report domestic birds suspected to have bird flu to t h e
  Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), call 1-717-772-2852.

In parts of New Jersey this week, over 1,100 dead or sick wild birds were reported statewide over three daysto the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection(NJDEP).