Worried about Bird flu yet?

Forums:

Bird feeders are strongly discouraged around here, as it aids the spread from wild bird to any bird. And Maryland has a big poultry industry.

Nearby:

A contagious strain of avian influenza has been confirmed in a fifth Lancaster County commercial poultry flock, killing another 307,400 chickens, either from infection or euthanization aimed at stopping the virus’s spread. ... The farm is a commercial egg-layer operation, the agency said. With the new farm included, a total of 3,807,800 chickens — a combination of egg layers and meat birds — have been killed or depopulated across five commercial poultry farms in the county since mid-April, according to the USDA.

The current avian flu outbreak reached the United States in December, likely via infected wild waterfowl. As of Wednesday morning, the virus had been confirmed in flocks on 243 commercial or backyard poultry operations across 29 states, according to the USDA. The outbreak has affected 33.38 million commercial poultry birds nationwide,

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/avian-flu-infects-fifth-lancaster...

and:

Chinese officials have reported the first human infected with the H3N8 bird flu strain, which has been detected in horses, dogs and even seals.

Though experts said the risk of large-scale transmission is low, infections in humans can lead to viral adaptive mutations that increase the risk of rapid spreading.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3469051-china-reports-first-human-...

I came up with a joke about this subject earlier today. It goes like this: The bird flu. Well, duh. That's what birds do.

lol (for real)

Mike, that would be much funnier with a picture

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even then....

Yeah yeah, I know. Until my night job pays.

how bout Ebola -- you think people will dismiss wearing protective gear and hang out in bars if Ebola rages? 

"A virus that causes severe bleeding, organ failure, and can lead to death. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, and chills. Later, a person may experience internal bleeding resulting in vomiting or coughing blood. Scientists do not know where Ebola virus comes from. Based on similar viruses, they believe EVD is animal-borne, with bats or nonhuman primates being the most likely source." The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/26/africa/second-ebola-death-drc-intl/index....

No.

Still loading up the feeders every morning, got our first spring pair of rose breasted grosbeaks yesterday.

how bout Ebola -- you think people will dismiss wearing protective gear and hang out in bars if Ebola rages? <<<

^ this

... and is why covid has been so insidious ... in so far as being mostly "out of sight out of mind" in terms of its visibility in the public space; along with a "shock value" to prompt people to take notice. 

"Empty Sleeves" served as a constant stark visual reminder to everyone about the continual loss of life and limb during the Civil War; and even to nag the collective subconscious decades afterwards 

Private-William-Sergeant-of-Co.-E-53rd-Pennsylvania-Infantry-Regiment-in-uniform-after-the-amputation-of-both-arms- (1).jpg

 

I think HIPAA regs have exacerbated this "reverse dynamic" with covid .... at least with Ebola, there'd be plenty of viral videos of public symptom onset

Back to OP:  I did see an article about bird flu in four corners region recently.

 

Not worried, but certainly aware. Not too concerned about human infection, but  i am watching the price of poultry. 

 

 

We enjoyed feeding the birds, and I wasn't concerned about bird feeders and infectious diseases, but I discovered that seed feeders encouraged the local rat population. Now we're limited to hummingbird feeders.

I am keeping my eyes peeled on when the bird flu hits my county. It is all around here in the surrounding counties. They are reporting wild birds getting ill, especially birds of prey.

Last summer I brought in my feeders when there was a local east coast outbreak killing the song birds. Once I hear that it is my county I will bring my feeders in the garage.

No rats here, plenty of squirrels

Bird feeders = cat feeders.

There is flock of chickens in my backyard, so keeping an eye out for local outbreaks (knock on wood).

Squirrels are prettier rats with long tails

An acquaintance in Philomath Oregon has lost two chickens on two separate days.  She phoned authorities, who showed up in full hazmat gear.  They told her to isolate her remaining chickens, and took the two away for autopsy.  I haven't heard the results yet.  I will start a post if I hear bad news!

That sounds serious, hazmat suits, wow.

I brought my feeders in last fall after a Cooper's hawk took up residence in the neighbourhood and massacred two of my finches. Waited two weeks and then put them back out

 

Colorado?

The first human case of avian flu in the U.S. is reported in Colorado

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/29/1095474268/first-us-avian-flu-human-colorado

Coincidence? I think not.

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