After a major bird flu outbreak at a Suffolk County farm last week led officials to euthanize about 100,000 ducks there, the focus has shifted to preventing any further outbreaks.
The strain of avian influenza that forced the duck farm to cull it’s entire flock is highly contagious among birds, according to Kate Perz, the Cornell Cooperative Extension — Suffolk County's 4-H Animal Science Program Coordinator.
“This can spread so, so, so quickly," Perz said. "It can be carried on your clothes. It can be carried on your shoes. It can be carried on feed buckets, tires of cars. And it takes a very little amount of the virus to infect wild birds.”
She said animal workers should boost their biosafety measures, and the public should report any signs of illness in wild birds, pets or backyard flocks to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
“You will see high levels of mortality, meaning the birds will be dying very quickly," Perz said. "We might see discoloration, like purple skin on their legs...You might see some respiratory signs, so coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge.”
Bird flu is not easily spread to humans according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although the risk is higher for those who have regular contact with animals.
