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An alert was issued on Thursday, March 3 by officials after Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was detected in wild birds throughout Massachusetts.
The announcement came after similar alerts were issued in nearby Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and other East Coast and Midwest states.
According to officials, based on confirmed HPAI infections in multiple Massachusetts locations, they believe that it is vernally present in the state’s wild bird population.
Water fowl, especially dabbling ducks like mallards, are most likely to carry the virus, they noted.
Officials advised that “all domestic poultry in Massachusetts may be at risk of exposure.” Bird owners have been advised to use biosecurity to protect their flock and facilities against the HPAI virus.
Owners and visitors to areas where fowl are housed were also cautioned that they could accidentally expose their flocks to HPAI through potentially contaminated shoes, clothing, or equipment.
There have been no reported cases of humans becoming infected by FPAI in the US.
"HPAI is a deadly disease for poultry,” according to the state Department of Agricultural Resources. “It can infect all types of chickens, turkeys and many other kinds of birds.
“HPAI can strike suddenly and spread fast. Infected poultry may die within hours of becoming infected. The virus can be spread by contact with infected birds or contaminated materials.”
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