Bird flu outbreak spreads to Eugene

Highly contagious avian flu has spread to Eugene, less than a month after its first Oregon appearance in domestic fowl in southern Oregon.

There is no human health risk, but hawks and falcons may be susceptible to the virus, state officials said.

The H5N8 influenza virus was confirmed Tuesday in a mallard killed Dec. 20 by a hunter at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area.

It was tested first by the OSU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Corvallis, then at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

Avian flu has been circulating in Europe and East Asia.

In November, it began hitting commercial poultry farms in Western Canada, and last month was found in wild birds in Washington, near the Canadian border, and in southern Oregon.

The mallard did not show signs of sickness and there have been no reports of waterfowl die-offs related to avian flu in North America, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

The detection is not a surprise for wildlife managers, said Brandon Reishus, ODFW migratory bird coordinator.

“After seeing initial results from other states, we suspected the HPAI strains (H5N2 and H5N8) would be found in wild waterfowl in Oregon,” Reishus said.

This time of year, migratory waterbirds are on wintering areas throughout the Pacific Flyway, which extends from Alaska to South America.

In the coming months these birds will migrate back to nesting areas to the north, potentially spreading the virus to new areas.

Wild birds can pass the influenza virus to their species or other bird species inhabiting shared wetlands or through predator and prey interactions.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is advising commercial poultry growers and backyard flock owners to be vigilant with biosecurity measures and surveillance.

That includes preventing contact between their birds and wild birds and closely monitoring their flocks.

Backyard flock owners can report sick birds to the State Veterinarian’s office at 1-800-347-7028 or can call USDA toll free at 1-866-536-7593.

tloew@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/SJWatchdog