Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Hawaii Dept. of Health: H5 Detected in Wastewater in Hilo

Hawaii lies beneath the West Pacific Flyway 

#18,478


Four weeks ago the Hawaii Dept. of Health released a Statement on Detection of H5 Influenza In Wastewater on the island of Oʻahu, followed by at least two outbreaks in captive and/or wild birds the following week.

The assumption is the virus arrived via the West Pacific Flyway. 

Overnight the Hawaii DOH announced a second detection - this time on the `big island' of Hawaiʻi - at the Hilo wastewater treatment plant. These two detections are roughly 200 miles apart (as the virus flies), which may suggest more than one introduction.

The DOH statement follows:

H5 AVIAN FLU DETECTED AT WASTEWATER SAMPLING SITE IN HILO


Posted on Dec 10, 2024 in Newsroom

HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratories Division has detected H5 avian influenza (bird flu) in a wastewater sample collected on Dec. 2 at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaiʻi Island.

This is the first detection of bird flu on a neighbor island and indicates an H5 type of bird flu virus was present. Wastewater testing cannot determine if the detection is specifically the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 subtype of bird flu virus which was recently found on Oʻahu. 

The presence of the H5N1 virus in Hawaiʻi was first confirmed in November 2024 in a backyard flock of birds in Central Oʻahu. That virus strain was a different genotype of the virus that has infected birds and dairy cows on the U.S. mainland.

While the risk to the public remains low, HPAI can cause severe illness with a high mortality rate among certain bird populations such as poultry. Commercial poultry producers and residents with backyard flocks are strongly advised to increase biosecurity measures to reduce the likelihood of infection. HPAI can also infect dairy cows. While pasteurized milk is safe, raw milk should be avoided.

To report multiple or unusual illnesses in poultry, livestock, or other wild birds or animals, contact HDOA Animal Industry Division at 808-483-7102, Monday to Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 808-837-8092 during non-business hours and holidays.

Residents who believe they may have been exposed to sick birds or other wildlife should contact the Disease Outbreak Control Division Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586 for additional guidance.

Resources on avian influenza:


Posted by at