Yesterday, in Updated B.C. Wildlife HPAI Dashboard & AIV Intelligence Report, we discussed the rapid escalation of HPAI H5 detections in the environment - particularly in the Pacific Northwest - which lies beneath the busy Pacific Flyway.
Over the past few weeks Washington State, Oregon, and California have reported numerous outbreaks in poultry, and even a spillover (in Oregon) into swine. Just as we've seen in British Columbia, a lot of this activity appears to be linked to two new genotypes (D1.1 and D1.2) which have appeared this fall.
These genotypes are genetically distinct from the `bovine' B3.13 genotype which has been reported in dairy cattle in 15 U.S. states, and was likely brought in by migratory birds this fall.
Even places that practice daily biosecurity - like poultry farms and zoos - can find it difficult to prevent infiltration by this virus. Yesterday Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo announced the death of a rare Red-Breasted Goose, which has presumptively tested positive for H5N1.
While they await confirmatory testing, the zoo has announced the following steps:
Effective immediately, the following measures will be enacted at the zoo:
Access to birds will be strictly limited to their care providers, including designated animal keepers and veterinary staff. All volunteer activity, private tours and special experiences are cancelled.
- All open-air, walk-through aviaries will be closed. This includes Savanna Aviary, Temperate Wetlands (marsh) and Conservation Aviary. The Tropical Rainforest will remain open at this time.
- Penguin feeding experiences are cancelled. During the last HPAI threat in 2022, penguins were temporarily moved indoors, but as that indoor move was associated with an increase in medical problems, they will remain outdoors.
- Ambassador animal birds will not participate in public programming or guest experiences.
- For the safety of our staff, those who have critical care roles with birds will continue to wear increased PPE.
What’s Next?
The zoo’s Animal Health team will continue to evaluate the health of our animals and staff and will adjust all safety precautions as needed.
The impacted goose, and the other red-breasted geese that shared space with that animal, lived in an off-exhibit, behind-the-scenes pool area and guests have not been exposed to or in contact with these animals. For the safety of the remaining geese, their caretakers, and for all other animals who reside near them, the geese will be moved to a quarantine area for up to 120 days so that staff with proper PPE can monitor the flock and decrease potential impacts on humans and animals.
Red-breasted geese are a rare, threatened species and it is the hope of Woodland Park Zoo to protect and support a healthy population.
In addition to quarantining the geese, all planned moves of birds to or from our zoo will be cancelled for the time being.
While the risks of human exposure to this virus outside of the farm environment remains low - it is not zero - and anyone who has pets that are allowed outside, or raises backyard birds, or hunts, or does wildlife rescue needs to be aware that the risks are increasing.
The Canadian Press is reporting overnight that B.C.'s chief vet tells clinics to set up avian flu protocols amid human exposure risk, and we've seen warnings from the CDC advising people to avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, and to prevent exposure of their pets to wildlife and potentially contaminated environments.
While most people that have been exposed to the virus have been poultry workers or work with dairy cattle, at least 2 cases in North America (and a number of others around the world) have been infected without an obvious risk exposure.
While the risks may be small, a little extra caution this fall and winter wouldn't go amiss.
