After surviving last fall and winter without a case of highly pathogenic bird flu virus, Oregon and other states inside the Pacific Flyway are once again bracing for the possibility of migratory waterfowl introducing the disease to backyard birds and other domestic poultry. Outreach and education efforts are ramping up in hopes that bird owners get the message that biosecurity is critical to reducing the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) from showing up in the months to come. Avian influenza naturally resides in wild birds and it is fairly common for waterfowl to carry various strains of the virus. “I would say that the current threat level is certainly elevated,” says State Veterinarian Dr. Brad LeaMaster with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. “We don’t have the resources to conduct large scale surveillance studies in the wild waterfowl population, but the detection of HPAI in Alaska late August told us that the virus is there, and has maintained itself in its natural host. It is highly likely that the fall migration will bring the virus down the Pacific Flyway and back to Oregon.” Cool, wet weather provides optimal conditions for influenza viruses, including HPAI. That increases the chance of transmission from a wild waterfowl host to domestic poultry.
