With Bird Flu Outbreak, Are Louisiana Wild Ducks Safe To Eat?
Earlier this week, the Louisiana Department of Health made an announcement that likely got the attention of all duck hunters here in the Bayou State.
On Tuesday, January 7, the organization announced that "a patient hospitalized last month for H5N1 bird flu has died, becoming the first U.S. death from the virus. The agency said the individual contracted the virus after exposure to a combination of a backyard flock and wild birds."
The reason this death is especially frightening to the duck hunting population of Louisiana is largely due to what's unknown about this potentially lethal disease.
Bird Flu Has Shown Up Again In Wild Birds In Louisiana
In a notice last month, LDWF advised that H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is again causing mortalities in wild birds in Louisiana.
This year’s fall migrations have created a resurgence of HPAI-induced waterfowl disease in Louisiana.
Many different species of wild birds can be infected with HPAI. Geese and other waterfowl are particularly susceptible to HPAI and may exhibit neurological symptoms, which ultimately lead to the death of the bird. Scavenging raptors, including vultures, are also susceptible to the disease.
What Are Signs That A Duck Might Have Bird Flu?
The American Veterinary Medical Association states that infected birds will exhibit a number of signs including:
- Purple discoloration or swelling of various body parts.
- Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing.
- Lack of coordination.
Mammals are, for the most part, resistant to H5N1 HPAI but rare fatal infections have been documented in dogs, cats, foxes, black bears and even dolphins.
It should be noted that while many waterfowl hunting dogs contact birds with HPAI, no dog infections have been reported in Louisiana. Contact between pets and birds showing neurologic signs should be avoided.
Wildlife rehabilitators should be careful not to bring potentially HPAI-infected birds into their rehabilitation facilities to prevent introduction and spread of the disease within the facility.
Clothing and other objects, or even seemingly healthy waterfowl, which may touch infected should be washed thoroughly and kept away from other birds, especially domestic poultry.
Do NOT Handle Or Consume Birds Showing Signs Of Bird Flue
Sick birds should not be handled and no bird exhibiting signs of disease or found dead should be utilized for human consumption.
Sick or dead birds should be reported to regional LDWF: Hammond Office: 985-543-4777, Lake Charles Office 337-491-2575, Lafayette Office 337-262-2080, Minden Office 318-371-3050, Monroe Office 318-343-4044, Pineville Office 318-487-5885.
More information about HPAI may be found on the following websites:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-birds.htm
https://www.fws.gov/avian-influenza