can geese get bird flu

Can travelers get bird flu?

Most travelers are unlikely to get bird flu. Travelers who visit poultry farms or live animal markets, or who work with animals, such as veterinarians, farmers, experts in the animal industry, and wildlife professionals, may be more vulnerable.

Avian Flu (Bird Flu)

A virus that typically affects both domestic and wild birds causes avian influenza, also known as bird flu. Migratory waterbirds, such as ducks, geese, and swans, and shorebirds, such as storks, are among the wild birds that can harbor bird flu viruses. Bird flu viruses are easily transmitted from wild birds to domestic poultry, including geese, pheasants, turkeys, and chickens. The virus can be detected in the fluids from an infected bird’s mouth, nose, or eyes as well as in its excrement.

Bird flu viruses dont usually infect people. However, this can happen if you:

Touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after coming into contact with diseased live or dead birds.
Touch surfaces or objects contaminated with bird flu viruses, then make contact with your mouth, nose, or eyes.
Breathe in droplets or dust contaminated with the virus.

Bird flu symptoms can range from none at all in sick individuals to severe disease. Some have mild symptoms, such as conjunctivitis (redness of the eyes), headaches, sore throats, runny or stuffy noses, headaches, and fatigue. Breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, and a high fever are examples of more severe symptoms. Pneumonia in patients with severe illness can occur and may need hospitalization. Seizures, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other less typical symptoms Information by Destination.

Where are you going?

The best way to prevent avian (bird) influenza (flu) is to avoid sources of exposure whenever possible. Infected birds shed bird flu virus in their saliva, mucous, and feces. People rarely get bird flu; however, human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when enough virus gets into a persons eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. This can happen when virus is in the air (in droplets or possibly dust) and a person breathes it in, or when a person touches something that has virus on it and then touches their mouth, eyes or nose. Bird flu virus infections in people happen most often after close, prolonged and unprotected (no gloves or other protective wear) contact with infected birds and then the person touches their mouth, eyes, or nose.

The Maryland Department of Health, Office of the State Veterinarian, has notified the Charles County Department of Health about the potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection in dead geese collected in Waldorf. The CDC believes that there is currently little risk to the public from the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in wild birds and poultry.

FAQ

How do I know if my goose has bird flu?

HPAI symptoms in wild birds can include: nervousness, tremors or lack of coordination, swelling around the head, neck and eyes, lack of energy or movement, coughing, gasping for air or sneezing, diarrhea, or sudden death. However, wild birds, particularly waterfowl, infected with HPAI may be asymptomatic.

What birds are affected by the bird flu?

The viruses that cause avian influenza (or bird flu) mainly infect and spread among wild aquatic birds, such as wild ducks, geese, and storks, and domestic poultry, such as chickens and turkeys.

Are ducks affected by bird flu?

However, avian influenza A viruses are very contagious among birds, and some of these viruses can sicken and even kill certain domesticated bird species, including chickens, ducks and turkeys. Infected birds can shed avian influenza A viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.

Can bird feathers carry bird flu?

The virus spreads through direct bird-to-bird contact or indirectly when virus is on clothing, footwear, vehicles, rodents, insects, feed, water, feathers, etc.