DEC Launches New Web-Based Form to Report Suspected Cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Public Reminded to Minimize Risk of Spread by Preventing Contact Between Domestic Animals and Wild Birds

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced an online platform for the public to report suspected Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in wild birds. The platform was designed as part of an ongoing effort to monitor HPAI in New York.

“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, DEC is working closely with our State agency and federal partners to monitor incidence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza affecting wild birds and the threat it can pose for domestic animals,” said Interim Commissioner Mahar. “I encourage New Yorkers to use this web-based tool to provide DEC with real-time information about locations of suspected outbreaks wherever and whenever they occur.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Early detection of HPAI is key to preventing its spread. DEC’s new reporting tool will help us understand how HPAI is impacting wild birds, so we can find it quickly and take further action to keep it contained. I encourage New Yorkers to keep an eye out for sick or dead wild birds and use this tool to assist in New York State’s joint response. I’m also reminding our citizens who own backyard poultry flocks to monitor their animals for illness, unexplained deaths, or sudden drops in egg production. If any of these signs are present, contact our Division of Animal Industry right away by calling (518) 457-3502 or emailing dai@agriculture.ny.gov. Working together, we make sure that we are catching HPAI early and doing everything we can protect our animals, farmers, and public health.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “We continue to remain vigilant and monitor for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in wild birds in New York State. This new web-based tool allows for rapid response to reports of sick birds, further protecting public health. While there are no human cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, we will continue to monitor these detections and work closely with our state and local partners to prevent the spread of the virus.”

HPAI continues to infect birds and mammals across the United States and Canada, including New York. The first detection of HPAI in New York State was in a backyard poultry flock in Suffolk County in February 2022. Since 2022, HPAI has been detected in free-ranging wild birds and wild mammals throughout the state and in captive birds in several counties.

The new link for reporting observations can be found on DEC’s website: https://dec.ny.gov/nature/wildlife-health/animal-diseases. Once a report is received, DEC’s field response is guided by the report’s details, including the number of sick or dead birds, bird species, and observations from new areas where HPAI has not yet been documented. Of particular interest are reports of suspected outbreaks in all species of waterfowl, raptors, crows, shorebirds, and other waterbirds such as gulls, loons, and herons. These species are known HPAI vectors, particularly vulnerable to the disease, when testing can help DEC track HPAI prevalence on the landscape.

HPAI is widespread in wild birds and mammals, so not all reports will result in DEC retrieving the animals for testing and/or disposal. The public can help minimize risk and limit disease spread by preventing contact between domestic animals and wild birds. In cases where DEC field staff are not responding to collect samples or carcasses from the landscape, the public should limit contact with dead wildlife and keep domestic animals away. If removal of carcasses is deemed necessary, the public is reminded to wear disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection. Avoid direct contact with the carcass or carcass fluids by using a shovel and washing hands and clothing immediately after with soap and hot water. Carcasses should be triple bagged (garbage or contractor bags) and placed in an outdoor trash receptacle.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that recent HPAI detections in birds pose a low risk to the public. While there is likely little risk for the public, people with close or prolonged unprotected contact with infected birds or virus-contaminated environments are at greater risk of infection.

HPAI is caused by an influenza type A virus that is carried by free-flying waterfowl and other waterbirds such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds, but can also infect domestic poultry (chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl), raptors, corvids (crows and ravens), and mammals. Recently, there have been a number of cases in dairy cattle in several states. Some infected wild birds can carry these viruses without getting sick, but domestic poultry and many species of wild birds get sick and often die from these viruses. Songbirds and other passerine birds do not appear to be highly susceptible to infection.

For more information on New York’s continued efforts to reduce the spread see https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-new-york-states-continued-efforts-prevent-spread-highly-pathogenic

A video interview with DEC’s Small Game Unit Leader  Joshua Stiller highlighting this online tool and overall HPAI safety is available here: https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/fs/programs/press/Fish&Wildlife/AvianInfluenza_JoshuaStiller.mp4