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Date: 4/18/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Highly pathogenic avian influenza may not be in Western Massachusetts yet, but zoos, pet owners and farmers need to be aware of the implications of the spread of this disease.
Sarah Tsitso, the executive director of the Zoo at Forest Park and Education Center, and Emily Bouwer, the zoo’s curator, explained to Reminder Publishing the threat of this disease is very real. The zoo has taken numerous precautions to protect the birds in its care.
Bouwer said the mortality rate is extremely high from the disease. There is no vaccine to prevent the disease and no cure for it. This is not the first time the virus has arisen. Bouwer said in 2015 and 2016 there was an outbreak of the same virus.
Tsitso said the zoo’s staff started hearing about the rise of the virus in mid-February. Like the coronavirus pandemic, Tsitso described the situation as “unfolding.”
The influenza is spread mostly by wild waterfowl through feces, Tsitso explained. The Connecticut River is on the migratory path for many wild birds, such as Canada geese.
The closest known case of the influenza has been in Framingham.
“We’ve been operating on the premise it’s here,” Tsitso said.
The United States Department of Agriculture has noted on its website there have been fatal outbreaks in Minnesota, South Dakota, Indiana, Colorado, Nebraska and Montana. One case in Nebraska involved a flock of 1.7 million commercial chickens.
The influenza could easily affect chicken and egg production. Bouwer said, “That’s why the government is taking it so seriously.”
According to the information supplied by the Pennsylvania State University, poultry owners should be looking for the following conditions in their flocks:
Walking or driving through wild bird feces can unknowingly spread the virus to birds such as domesticated or pet birds.
Tsitso added the virus has a long life.
In the zoo’s case, the staff has placed many signs alerting visitors to what is happening. All visitors walk on a disinfectant mat to kill any virus on their shoes before entering the zoo. The birds that roam the zoo freely, such as peacocks and chickens, have been brought inside. All outdoor bird enclosures now have a tarp cover the top to prevent any feces from a passing wild bird from getting into the enclosure. None of the “high-value” birds such as parrots and cockatoos are allowed to leave their indoor enclosures.
Bouwer said the zoo is also limiting the use of birds in any programming.
She added state authorities have said it is “very unlikely” that humans could be infected by this strain of influenza, “but it’s not impossible.”
Tsitso said visitors to the zoo “have been very understanding” about the precautions they have taken.