According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, a “highly pathogenic” strain of bird flu has killed a bald eagle found in East Marlborough Township.
The commission announced the finding Friday, March 25, saying it’s the first detection of HPAI H5N1 in Pennsylvania since the current strain was found in the United States in December of last year. Birds in 20 other states have been affected.
“In addition to the bald eagle, diagnostics are pending regarding five wild hooded mergansers recovered from Kahle Lake on the border of Clarion and Venango counties. Four were found dead, and the fifth was exhibiting neurologic signs and was subsequently euthanized. HPAI is suspected,” according to the commission’s website.
The commission also said that “wild waterfowl and shorebirds are natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses.” And the contagion can spread to sicken or kill wild poultry, hawks, eagles, crows, and ravens.
While the viruses occur naturally and are always present, they can’t be prevented in the wild. However, bird owners should take precautions to keep their birds away from the wild ones. The HPAI is particularly contagious and lethal to domestic poultry.
In February, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture urged farmers to bolster their biosecurity, keep domesticated fowl away from wildfowl, and make sure the wild birds can’t get to the domestic birds’ food and water supplies.
According to the CDC, the risk to humans is low.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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