Bird Flu

USGS scientist takes a blood sample from a blue-winged teal as part of a study on migratory birds and the pathogens they may carry between continents.

Photo courtesy of USGS/USFWS.

Avian influenza, also called “avian flu” or “bird flu”, is a type of influenza virus that most commonly infects birds. The virus is spread through the saliva, feces, feathers, and mucus from infected birds.

Bird flu can infect other mammals, including humans. There are reports of bird flu illness and deaths in mammalian wildlife (e.g., foxes, mountain lions, skunks, raccoons, bears), domestic animals (e.g., dairy cows, cats), and in marine mammals (e.g. seals, sea lions).

While rare, people can become infected with the bird flu virus when they come into close contact with infected animals and their environment. The risk of becoming infected is currently low for the general public. However, people who have job-related or recreational exposures to infected animals have a higher risk of infection.

CDC reports on the status of bird flu and risk to the general public at H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation | Bird Flu | CDC.

Actions we’re taking

• The National Park Service (NPS) actively reports and monitors sick wild bird populations to detect possible cases of bird flu.

• We collect dead wildlife and animals within parks and submit specimens to diagnostic labs for bird flu testing.

• We stay current on the evolving outbreak and maintain communication between parks, regions, the NPS Wildlife Health Team, and NPS Office of Health & Safety for situational awareness and coordinated response within NPS.

Visitor Safety Information

• Always watch wildlife from a safe distance! Not all birds become sick from bird flu, but they can still pass the virus on to humans and other animals. For tips see: Watching Wildlife (U.S. National Park Service).

• Stay away from birds and animals that appear sick or dead.

• Do not feed birds or wildlife.

• Do not touch or pick up sick or dead wildlife.

• Keep pets leashed and away from sick or dead wildlife.

• Avoid touching surfaces or materials that are visibly contaminated with animal feces.

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if you touch an animal or surfaces that are contaminated with animal feces.

• Report any dead, sick, or abnormally behaving animal you observe in the park to a park ranger or park staff at the visitor center.

Additional Safety Tips for Bird Watching

Birding groups and individual birders may be exposed to the bird flu virus if they come into close contact with infected birds or their saliva, feces, feathers, or mucus in the environment. It is important to take precautions, such as maintaining a safe distance from birds and practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands, and cleaning footwear or other equipment, before going into your home or to a backyard poultry environment. These steps can minimize the risk of spreading bird flu and protect your pets and other animals.

• Do not handle or rescue birds, as this can pose health risks to both you and the birds.

• Stay away from nesting birds, their eggs, or their nests. If you find juvenile birds out of the nest, leave them alone.

• Use cameras and binoculars to take photos and videos at a healthy distance to avoid approaching birds.

• Before returning home, clean shoes to prevent potentially spreading bird flu. Remove all mud and debris and use a disinfectant spray.

For more information on birding, visit: Birding For Beginners (U.S. National Park Service)

Reporting Sick or Dead Animals

Report any dead, sick, or abnormally behaving animal you observe in the park to a park ranger or park staff at the visitor center.

Although it is difficult to identify if an animal is infected with bird flu just by looking at it, there are some common signs that may be observed in animals sickened with bird flu virus.

Examples of sick bird or animal behavior are:

• Swimming or walking in circles or appearing sluggish

• Jerky movements, or a lack of coordination

• Walking or bumping into things as if the animal were blind

• Tremors, convulsions or seizures

• Coughing

• Inability of a bird to fly

Research Permits and Bird Flu

If you are working with wildlife in a national park unit, please refer to your organization’s policies and procedures for safe work practices, personal protective equipment and biosecurity measures. If you identify sick or dead wildlife during your research:

• Contact the park permit office immediately and share the date, time, location (latitude/longitude), species affected, and your contact information. Please take photos or videos of the affected animal if possible.

• Take appropriate actions as directed in your research permit or approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol.

Lease and Special Use Permits for Domestic Animal Operations in Parks

Bird flu is impacting commercial and backyard domestic animal operations across the United States. If you have domestic animal operations under a lease or special use permit in a national park unit, we recommend taking the following actions when you suspect an animal disease:

• Contact your veterinarian to evaluate the animal or herd. If you do not have a veterinarian, please use this website to  Find an accredited veterinarian in your area.

• If your flock or herd tests positive for bird flu, please notify the national park unit lease or special permit coordinator. Animal health professionals who respond to sick or deceased animals will report diagnosed or suspected cases of bird flu to APHIS Area Veterinarians in Charge and to the State animal health official as applicable under State reporting regulations.

More information on bird flu and domestic animals can be found at the US Department of Agriculture: Avian Influenza | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Contact Information

• To report sick and dead wild animals in a national park, contact a park ranger or visitor center staff at the park you are visiting.

• For questions regarding human health and bird flu in national parks, e-mail us.

• For domestic animal questions or health concerns, please contact your local veterinarian or state department of agriculture for technical assistance.

Resources

• For more information on bird flu in the United States, check out Bird Flu | Bird Flu | CDC.

• For more information on how bird flu is affecting animals across the United States, check out Avian Influenza | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

• Planning a vacation to a national park this year? Check out Plan Your Vacation Like a Park Ranger (U.S. National Park Service) for tips on a successful trip to one of our amazing national parks!

Information for NPS Employees or Volunteers in Parks

If you are a National Park Service employee or volunteer in parks, your risk of exposure to bird flu may be greater if your job includes handling live or dead wildlife or domestic animals. The risk of exposure to bird flu depends on which animal species are being handled, current presence of virus, and the type of work activities that are being performed. Your supervisor will share specific protocols with you based on your work tasks to reduce risk of exposure. Follow up with your supervisor if you have any questions on bird flu.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does bird flu spread from animal to animal?

Wild birds are incredible travelers, migrating long distances every year to find food, nesting areas, and suitable climates. During their migration, they move across the United States stopping to eat, drink, and nest along the way, including at national parks. Wild birds, especially wild aquatic birds, are the primary carriers for bird flu. These wild birds are often infected with bird flu in their respiratory and intestinal tract, and some types, like ducks, may not show any signs of illness. 

Wild birds may come into contact with other birds or animals, potentially spreading bird flu to them. This can result in large die-offs of other bird species that are more vulnerable to illness and death from this virus. Other birds or mammals that are exposed to infected birds or bird waste can also become sick or die. Some examples of how bird flu spreads are: 

• Bird scavengers (e.g., vultures and eagles), predatory birds (e.g., hawks, owls), and mammalian predators (e.g., bobcats, foxes) may become infected from eating infected birds.  

• Domestic cats can become infected by drinking raw milk from infected dairy cattle and by eating raw food diets containing infected meat.  

• When infected waterfowl defecate into a waterbody, depending on the environmental conditions present, the bird flu virus may infect other waterfowl who drink and bathe in the water.  

• Birds that gather in large groups can be exposed to bird flu through tiny virus particles in the air coming from feathers, feces, and saliva of infected birds. Exposure to the virus can occur between groups of wild birds, as well as in domestic poultry settings. 

• In some cases, objects such as shoes or vehicle tires (also known as fomites), can transfer the virus between locations, creating further opportunities for animal exposure to the virus.  

Bird flu is causing illness in many species of wild birds including raptors and bird scavengers (e.g., vultures), seabirds, waterfowl (e.g., geese, ducks), wading birds (e.g., cranes), shorebirds (e.g., plover, turnstone), and peri-urban birds (e.g., house sparrows, grackles). There are also reports of avian flu illness and death in mammalian wildlife (e.g., foxes, mountain lions, skunks, raccoons, bears) and in marine mammals (e.g. seals, sea lions). 

How do people get infected with the bird flu virus?

Bird flu viruses may be spread from infected birds or other animals to humans. Here are some ways this can happen: 

• Direct contact with infected bird feces, saliva, or mucus can lead to infection when the virus enters the eyes, nose, or mouth, or by inhaling tiny virus particles in the air.  

• Direct contact with infected dairy cows or raw milk (for example, during milking) from infected cows can lead to infection if the virus enters the eyes, nose or mouth or if virus particles are inhaled. 

• Exposure to or consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk or raw dairy products from infected cows can lead to infection due to high amounts of virus in milk from infected dairy cows. Pasteurized milk products are safe as pasteurization deactivates the virus. 

• Exposure to or eating undercooked meat or eggs from infected poultry can also lead to infection. 

Bird flu infections among people are rare; CDC currently considers the risk of bird flu among the general public to be low. However, people with prolonged and unprotected direct contact, for example not wearing respiratory and eye protection, with infected birds or places with sick birds, might be at greater risk of a bird flu infection. For more information on bird flu, visit: Bird Flu | Bird Flu | CDC. 

For more information on bird flu and eggs visit: Questions and Answers Regarding the Safety of Eggs During Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks | FDA   

For more information on raw milk, visit: Raw Milk Questions & Answers | FDA 

What are signs and symptoms of bird flu in people?

If a person becomes infected with bird flu, they may be asymptomatic (no symptoms) or they may have symptoms that range from mild to severe. Symptoms can vary, but may include red, irritated eyes (conjunctivitis), fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, and less commonly diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms generally appear within two (2) to seven (7) days after exposure.   

For more information on symptoms, please visit Signs and Symptoms of Bird Flu in People | Bird Flu | CDC. 

If you were in direct or close contact with an animal that was suspected or confirmed to be infected with bird flu, monitor for symptoms. If you become sick, please seek medical attention from a licensed medical provider and be sure to mention your contact with animals.  

If you test positive for bird flu and you believe you were exposed in a national park, contact e-mail us.