Risk to humans remains low, but Coloradans can take steps to protect themselves and their pets
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is monitoring an ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu in birds across Colorado and the United States. While the risk to humans remains low, people should avoid direct contact with wild birds and observe them only from a distance. Wild birds can be infected with avian flu without appearing sick.
The ongoing avian flu outbreak started last spring and has affected wild, commercial, and backyard birds across the entire state. Do not touch any dead birds you find, and do not walk on ice or into water to retrieve any birds. Avoid direct contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds, if possible, and avoid tracking those materials home or to backyard flocks on shoes, boots, gloves, and other items. If you find three or more dead wild birds in a specific area within a two-week period, notify your local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office.
“The risk to humans is low, but avian flu is widespread in birds throughout the state right now. It is important to avoid wild birds and not handle or transport any sick, dead, or dying birds,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, State Epidemiologist. “This ongoing outbreak of avian flu presents a risk to all birds in Colorado, and people can take basic precautions to protect themselves, their pets, and backyard flocks.”
People who have potentially been exposed to avian flu should monitor themselves for 10 days following exposure and contact their health care provider and their local public health agency if they experience any symptoms of avian flu — especially respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.
Other symptoms can include:
- Fever (temperature of 100oF [37.8oC] or greater) or feeling feverish.
- Cough.
- Sore throat.
- Runny or stuffy nose.
- Muscle or body aches.
- Headaches.
- Fatigue.
Although the risk is lower than it is to birds and cases are rare, domestic animals (e.g., cats or dogs) could become infected with avian flu if they go outside and eat or are exposed to sick or dead birds infected with avian flu viruses, or an environment contaminated with feces of infected birds. Avoid contact between your pets and wild birds or areas with a high level of bird activity. If you think your pet has been exposed to avian flu and is showing symptoms of illness, contact your veterinarian and monitor yourself for symptoms.
Bird owners should protect their flocks by reducing the interactions between their birds and wild birds, increasing physical biosecurity measures, securing their birds’ food supply, monitoring their flocks for illness, and reporting any observed or suspicious illness to the State Veterinarian’s Office at 303-869-9130. Bird owners can learn more about protecting their birds from avian flu at ag.colorado.gov/hpai.
