The bird flu is now considered to be “widespread” in mass., According to the managers

Massachusetts officials announced on Wednesday that the bird flu is now considered to be “widespread” in the state and urged the public to avoid manipulating birds or other dead or who seem sick.

In a joint statement, environmental and public health officials said that the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus (HPAI) is suspected of being the cause of death in wild and domestic birds in several municipalities in Massachusetts. The state has seen recurring incidents of the virus since the beginning of 2022, and earlier this month, officials said it was probably the cause of death for dozens of geese, swans and other Birds in Plymouth.

Between 500 and 1,000 deaths of wild birds suspected of coming from avian flu have been reported, although the actual number is probably higher, officials said at a press point by The Boston Globe. It is the greatest epidemic of state virus, according to the newspaper.

“The evidence suggests that HPAI is widespread in the Massachusetts and is probably present even in places where there has been no confirmed positive,” officials said in a statement. “State officials work with partners to test suspicious cases and collaborate with municipalities to securely eliminate dead birds.”

Depending on the state, wild and domestic birds can be infected with avian flu, with raptors, aquatic birds and aquatic birds. Birds can be infected without showing signs of illness, and animals that recover sick birds can also become sick. Cats are very sensitive to the disease, so those responsible urge anyone with cats in an area affected to keep their cats inside to prevent exposure and keep dogs on a leash and far from fauna.

Where is the flu with bird flu spread?

Aviary flu has been propagating for years in wild birds, and it has been confirmed in dairy cattle in the United States in March 2024. Epidemics occurred on farms from other states, and the propagation of the virus forced Farmers kill millions of chickens, leading to the outbreak of egg prices since last summer with the drop in supply.

High levels of the virus have also been found in raw milk produced in farms experiencing an epidemic. Health managers have urged people to avoid drinking raw milk and the American department of agriculture has increased its raw milk tests across the country.

The virus can be contracted by humans, and people who have direct contact with animals infected by H5N1 run the highest risk of being infected. According to the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at the national level, there were 67 human cases of avian flu, and earlier this month, a person in Louisiana died after contracting the virus. The officials said that the person, over the age of 65 and was infected with sick and dead birds in a backyard, had underlying medical problems.

There is no personal transmission to anyone in the virus, and no human case has been diagnosed in Massachusetts.

“Awareness … as opposed to the alarm”

Catherine Brown, the state epidemiologist for the Massachusetts, said during a press brief that the flu is “an animal virus at the moment”, according to the Globe.

“We believe that consciousness is the right approach as opposed to the alarm,” she said. “While the current H5N1 aviary has had significant impacts on dairy cattle, domestic birds and wild birds in the United States, avian flu viruses very rarely infect humans.”

The virus has not reached herds of cattle in New England either, and those responsible underline that “pasteurized milk is sure to consume”, according to the Globe.

Poultry owners are invited to try to prevent wild birds from mixing with or having contact with domestic herds.

Officials ask anyone who meets sick or dead birds to report suspicious cases to the state.

• Report wild birds: the public should point out the observations of sick birds or deceased in Masswildlife if 5 or more birds are in one place, using this form on Mass.gov/Reportbirds.
• Report domestic birds: the public must point out the sick or dead poultry or other domestic birds by calling the mass. Animal health division of the Ministry of Agricultural Resources at (617) 626-1795 or by Mass.gov/Reportpoultry.

The information from the Associated Press was used in this report.