31-01-2025
What do I need to know about bird flu? U of I suggests safety tips
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — As bird flu spreads across the United States, many in Illinois are growing concerned about their livestock, pets, wildlife, food safety and public health.
According to the Illinois Extension, highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, is very contagious and can be deadly for birds. The disease has spread from wild birds to backyard and commercial flocks, cattle and pets, making some concerned about how its mutating.
Here's how the bird flu outbreak is affecting farmers — and your wallet
University of Illinois experts say that there are some things you can do right now to prevent bird flu from spreading.
Don't handle sick or dead wildlife. Report five or more sick or dead wild birds in an area to an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist or USDA Wildlife Services at 866-487-3297.
Farm workers:
Apply biosecurity measures to protect flocks and wear personal protective equipment. The Illinois Department of Public Health has specific guidelines for H5N1. Report suspected infections to the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 217-782-4944.
Pet owners:
Monitor pets and keep them on a leash when outside. Do not let them come into contact with dead wildlife. Avoid raw pet food products.
Waterfowl hunters:
Cook game meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Find more information on hunters and bird flu.
Questions:
Connect with your local University of Illinois Extension office for more guidance.
In Northern Illinois, 3,000 chickens died from what is suspected to be bird flu. It's also been detected in Tazewell and DuPage Counties, and a flamingo and seal from the Lincoln Park Zoo reportedly died from bird flu.
James Lowe is a professor of veterinary clinical medicine at U of I. He said scientists have theorized that bird flu transfers from birds to mammals from bird feces. The virus also seems to vary based on species. For example, in carnivorous mammals, it impacts the brain. In humans, it impacts the lungs.
U of I associate professor and Wildlife Extension Specialist Joy O'Keefe said habitat loss brings people and animals closer, and could create more disease spillover.
Is Bird Flu headed to Central Illinois?
According to the CDC, bird flu is a low risk for public health, and the spread from animals to humans is rare. There have been 67 confirmed reported human cases in the United States, and one confirmed death.
The U of I Extension said most who have been infected are farm workers who contracted the disease from cattle or poultry. Symptoms have ranged from mild respiratory problems, pink eye, gastrointestinal problems, to severe respiratory distress. Infections have not spread from human to human.
Cooking meat and pasteurizing milk kills viruses, but the risk remains for raw products.
Bird flu could present a large economic risk for farmers, according to the U of I Extension. And flocks that become infected likely need to be culled to reduce the spread. There are around 4,500 commercial farms in the state that raise over 9 million poultry per year. A majority of those birds lay eggs, and the rest are used for meat production.
While the poultry industry could see large impacts, the virus may not harm the cattle industry as much. There are more than 600 dairy farms and 73,000 cattle in Illinois. Since the outbreak began, 943 herds in 16 states have been impacted, but it seems to only cause a mild disease in most cows.
U of I professor of zoological medicine Stephany Lewis said that pets can become infected with bird flu after eating sick birds, raw meat or unpasteurized milk from infected birds or cows. Some pet foods with raw ingredients have been linked to fatal HPAI infections in cats.
The U of I Extension also recommends that when you bring your pet outdoors, keep them away from wildlife and poultry. There is an extremely low risk of sick pets transmitting bird flu to people.
Keep birds in covered enclosures to limit and prevent their contact with wild birds. You should also store food and water away from wildlife and rodents, change your clothes and wash your hands before and after working with birds.
There is no treatment for bird flu for poultry. The virus is transmitted when a bird ingests fecal matter from an infected bird and can also be passed from equipment and clothes.
IL state agencies monitoring avian flu
Sick birds may have low energy or appetite, reduced or altered egg production, nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, or sudden death with no prior signs, according to the U of I Extension. To report suspected infections, call the IDOA at 217-782-4944 or USDA APHIS Veterinary Services at 866-536-7593. You can also contact a veterinarian.
While bird flu isn't common in wild birds, it's more likely found near larger concentrations of birds. Aquatic birds are more likely to be affected. Foxes, bobcats, skunks and carnivores have contracted bird flu.
Do not handle dead or dying wild or domestic birds or send them to veterinarians or wildlife rehabilitators. Instead, report them to your local IDNR District Wildlife Biologist or USDA Wildlife Services at 866-487-3297.
If you absolutely need to remove a dead bird, follow guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
To stay up to date with infection numbers, you can visit the CDC's website. For more information, visit the IDPH website.
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