AVIAN INFLUENZA
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as “bird flu,” is a highly contagious disease currently circulating in the United States among birds. According to the CDC, these avian flu viruses spread naturally among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry. It is highly contagious among birds and is often fatal to chickens and turkeys. On April 28, 2022, the CDC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported the first human case in the US of this current strain of avian flu. The man who tested positive was working at a commercial farm in close contact with infected poultry. The CDC still considers the risk to the general public as low. If you work with poultry, see our guidelines for personal protective equipment below.
Avian Flu: Personal Protective Equipment Guidelines
GPCAH, in collaboration with its partners at AgriSafe Network, Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, and Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, has produced a resource outlining personal protective equipment (PPE) recommendations for workers in poultry facilities. This document was updated in April 2022 and again in June 2022. Click on the button below to download and print the guidelines document.
In this video, K-State poultry specialist Scott Beyer gives some advice on what to watch for in wild birds and how to keep the avian flu from reaching your poultry.
Did you know?
Did you know there are ongoing outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu in wild birds and poultry in the United States? CDC recommends people with exposures take precautions to avoid bird flu virus infection, even though human infections are rare. If you have a backyard poultry flock, protect your poultry and yourself against bird flu. Visit the CDC’s page here.
2024 – Novel Influenza A Resources:
- SW Ag Center Bird Flu Guidance for Farm Workers – (English and Spanish)
- UNMC Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health – (English and Spanish)
- CDC website: Interim Guidance for Employers to Reduce Exposure to Novel Influenza A
National resources for information about avian influenza:
- CDC website: Bird Flu Current Situation Summary
- CDC Website: Information on Bird Flu
- Avian Influenza- Information for Workers
- NIOSH ALERT: Protecting Poultry Workers from Avian Influenza (English and Spanish)
- USDA website: Avian Influenza
- Migrant Clinicians Network blog: Avian Flu on Dairy Farms: What Clinicians and Dairy Worker Patients Need to Know
- CDC website: Updated Interim Recommendations for Worker Protection and PPE
State-specific information for our region:
- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: Avian Influenza
- Minnesota Department of Health: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus
- Illinois Department of Agriculture: Avian Influenza
- Indiana State Board of Animal Health: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
- Missouri Department of Agriculture: Avian Influenza Fact Page
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
- Ohio Department of Health
What to do if you find a dead bird
State and local governments have different policies for collecting and testing birds, so check with your state health department, state veterinary diagnostic laboratory, or state wildlife agency for information about reporting dead birds in your area. Wildlife agencies regularly investigate sick or dead bird events if large numbers are impacted. This type of reporting could help with the early detection of illnesses like West Nile virus or bird flu. If local authorities tell you to throw away the bird’s carcass (body), don’t touch it with your bare hands. Use gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out to place the body in a garbage bag, which can then be thrown away in your regular trash. To report unusual signs in birds you have seen in the wild, call 1-866-536-7593. (text from https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/index.html)
Additional Resources: Avian Influenza
FarmSafe Podcast
S4E7 | Flock & Flu: Guidelines for Backyard Poultry
In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Duysen, research assistant professor at the UNMC College of Public Health and coordinator of the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, to discuss the importance of raising backyard poultry and the growing threat of bird flu (avian influenza). Ellen shares key insights into how bird flu spreads, particularly in small-scale, backyard flocks, and the potential risks it poses to both poultry and human health. Listeners will learn essential biosecurity guidelines to protect their flocks, including steps to reduce exposure to wild birds and maintain clean living environments. The episode also covers the importance of monitoring flock health, recognizing early signs of illness, and what to do if bird flu is suspected. Whether you’re a seasoned poultry keeper or just starting, this episode provides invaluable advice to keep your birds safe and healthy.
S1E16 | Avian Influenza
In this episode, we are talking about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as “bird flu.” It is a highly contagious disease that is currently circulating in the United States among birds. As of April 5, 2022, there have been no reported human cases. According to the CDC, these avian flu viruses spread naturally among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry. It is highly contagious among birds and is often fatal to chickens and turkeys. We talk with Renee Anthony and Matt Nonnenmann from the University of Iowa about what poultry farmers can do to protect themselves from the virus and other hazards they might be exposed to while culling flocks or decontaminating farms and vehicles.
“I think we need to look at the whole continuum of exposures that operators may have during this outbreak.” – Renee Anthony, GPCAH Director