The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced Thursday preliminary testing shows a case of “highly pathogenic” H5N1 in a Montgomery County backyard flock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory will conduct further testing. The lab will have final results in the next few days.
The Agriculture Department is not disclosing the location of the backyard flock in the County or how many birds lived there for privacy reasons.
Officials say workers have “quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the properties are being or have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the affected flock will not enter the food system.”
Avian influenza is a highly contagious pathogen. It spreads easily among birds. The virus affects chickens, ducks and turkeys and some wild bird species like ducks, geese, shorebirds and raptors. Wild birds can become contagious after contact with infected poultry.
Highly pathogenic means a bird has become sick with the bird flu virus. That is different from low pathogenic which means a bird has the virus but does not really get sick or die from it.
Backyard Flocks Vs. Commercial Farm
A backyard flock is different from a commercial farm. The United States Department of Agriculture defines backyard flocks as containing fewer than 500 birds. Often times, people with a backyard flock have anywhere from 5 to 20 birds. The owners could sell their products produced from their flock to Farmer’s markets or other smaller sellers, but the products would not appear in major grocery store chains.
The state previously reported bird flu among flocks in Queen’s Anne and Caroline Counties, but this is the first case detected in Montgomery County.
County Case Unusual
MCM spoke with Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Trout about this new case in the County.
She believes it is an outlier and an isolated case. Officials have detected most of the other bird flu cases in the state along the Eastern Shore. However, bird flu is an airborne respiratory virus. Migratory birds could spread bird flu around the state.
Trout said it is important for anyone who owns a backyard flock to register with the state.
“We have a distribution list for email. So when something like this happens, we send out guidance. We give people an update and remind them of biosecurity procedures, and what they need to do to protect themselves and others,” Trout said.
Backyard flock owners can register their flock with the MDA to help protect the state’s poultry industries from diseases by using the Poultry Premises form. Email the completed form to animalhealth.mda.maryland.gov
Symptoms of Bird Flu
Birds that become sick with H5N1 will show some telltale signs. They will have a nasal discharge. Their eyes can become watery. Their combs can look swollen or discolored. Birds will appear lethargic and their coordination may be off.
However, before birds become very ill, they also may show some symptoms they are sick.
“If birds seem like they’ve gone off feed or not drinking as much, that’s when an owner might want to get somebody to come out and look at their birds. It may not be Avian Influenza. It could be something else. If you notice these little nuances, then maybe there is something wrong. That’s when you should probably think about having a vet come out and take a peek,” Trout said.
Impact on People
Montgomery County Health Officer, Dr. Kisha Davis, told MCM she was not surprised when she learned about the County bird flu case.
She said other cases have appeared across the state. Davis said she is very pleased with the level of coordination she has seen with state partners in response to this case.
The MDA said the risk of transmission between birds and people remains low but warns waterfowl hunters to use safety precautions after they handle wild birds. You can find guidelines for workers and hunters on the state website.
“The average person should not worry especially if he or she is not interacting with birds. People who might have backyard chickens might want to wear masks or gloves,” Davis said.
People Who Come In Contact With Birds
However, she also cautioned if a person sees a dead bird in his or her backyard to call 311. Workers will come and collect the bird. It will then undergo testing.
Davis advises if someone has had contact with a dead bird, and starts to experience flu symptoms, he or she should get tested for bird flu.
Some of the symptoms include a runny nose, congestion, and conjunctivitis. There are treatments available to treat bird flu such as Tamiflu.
She also recommends people who have interactions with chickens to get the flu vaccine. That way if a person develops symptoms, doctors could possibly rule out influenza as a potential cause.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it has documented 67 cases of people infected with bird flu. However, there are no cases of bird flu spreading from person to person. The government and health agencies are closely monitoring developments with the spread of bird flu.
Food Supply Is Safe
“I think it is really important for the public to be aware of what is going on. People should know the eggs and poultry they buy at grocery stores are safe to eat. A person should not worry that he or she may eat some bird infected with Avian Influenza,” Trout said.
Davis also said the food supply is safe. However, she cautions people should buy food only from reputable sources, and to eat pasteurized food. That includes staying away from items like raw milk.
While the County will see more birds migrate to the region as the temperatures warm, the number of bird flu cases may drop. Trout said the virus thrives in cooler weather and it likes damp conditions.
“As the weather warms up and we get past that migration in the spring, it should really calm down because it doesn’t like to survive in an environment that is warm. At 100 degrees, the virus can only last 24 hours outside of a host. Right now with temperatures in the 40s, the virus can live up to 8 weeks outside of a host,” Trout said.
She explained bird flu has been around for decades and will likely be around for the foreseeable future.
“It used to be called fowl plague. I mean it would be great if it would go away. But I don’t know that. We don’t have control over Mother Nature,” Trout explained.
Fran Murphy contributed to this story.
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