Avian Influenza 101

By Todd Schaller, WWA Vice President

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s May, 2022 Newsletter edition.

When I agreed to doing a WWA Newsletter article on the 2021-22 Avian Influenza (AI) outbreak I had no idea of the complexity of the topic. I don’t think Avian Influenza 101 is actually possible. My first clue should have been the formal name of the outbreak – EA H5N1 Avian Influenza.

After online research and a few podcasts, I’ve adjusted the article from Avian Influenza 101 to key aspects of EA H5N1 Avian Influenza for waterfowl hunters.

Wingshoot 2While Avian Influenza has been in the domestic poultry industry for a very long time, the impacts on wild bird populations is relatively new, 20 years give or take. Like many strains of influenza, the impacts are highly varied, symptoms are highly varied and it can develop into different strains through mutation of the virus DNA, which is why they often to refer to a specific “strain” of an outbreak. The last AI outbreak in Wisconsin was 2014-15.

Here are some key waterfowl hunter take-aways of the 2021-22 AI outbreak:

“See Something Say Something” to minimize the spread; the best practice if you locate or observe a sick or dead bird. Rather than collecting or contacting the bird, report the observation to the DNR Wildlife Hotline at 608-267-0866 or email DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wi.gov. If you are in another state, most states have a similar reporting structure in place.

If you are in an area with high concentrations of birds or waterfowl, it is recommended to wash your boots and any equipment that was in contact with water or fecal material. This is especially true for anyone with domestic poultry.

Per the U.S Center of Disease Control and Prevention, this strain of AI does not present an immediate public health concern and no human cases of avian influenza have been found in the United States as of this writing. Historically, the rate human cases of avian influenza are the result of long term exposures in the domestic poultry industry.

Proper handling and cooking of harvested birds, along with good hygiene practices, is always important to minimize food safety concerns.

Part of my research included talking with DNR Waterfowl Wildlife Biologist, Taylor Finger, to understand if AI will impact summer bird banding plans. Taylor indicated they are monitoring the situation and evaluating the risk/benefit of banding. His hope is the prevalence and risk of avian influenza will decrease and summer banding will occur.

While avian influenza has been detected in multiple states and species of birds, the impacts at the wild bird population level have been minimal. However, ongoing monitoring, reporting and research is critical as this will not be the last outbreak we experience.

If you are interested in learning more about EA H5N1 Avian Influenza I recommend the following resources: