2022
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in LA
County
Press Release: First Eight Cases of Avian Flu Detected
in Wild Birds in Los Angeles County; Risk of
Transmission to Humans is Low
10.17.2022
HPAI Guidance for Animal Control, Shelter and Veterinary
Facilities in Los Angeles County 
10.27.2022
2022 HPAI in Los
Angeles County Flyer (for posting by animal
control/veterinary facilities)
2022 Altamente
Patógeno
Influenza Aviar (IAAP) en el Condado de Los Angeles
Reporting sick or dead birds
To
report sick and dead poultry (such as chickens and
turkeys):
-
Call 213-288-7060 (Monday to Friday,
8am-5pm)
-
After 5pm and on weekends - Call the
California Sick Bird Hotline at
1-866-922-2473
To
report clusters of 3 or more sick or dead birds:
To
report individual sick or dead wild birds:
If you have sick poultry (such as
chickens or turkeys):
-
Call 213-288-7060 (Monday to Friday,
8am-5pm)
-
After 5pm and on weekends - Call the
California Sick Bird Hotline at
1-866-922-2473
-
Call your veterinarian
If you see a sick or dead wild
bird:
-
Do not handle
sick or dead wildlife. If it is necessary to do
so, wear gloves, mask and eye protection.
-
If the wild bird is sick or injured,
call your local animal control for
assistance. Call 211 to find your
local animal control or click
here.
-
If the bird is dead: Report to VPH using
the
online reporting portal. Use an
inverted plastic bag (as if picking up dog waste), shovel or other tool to handle the
bird. Ideally, double-bag the bird. Place the bagged bird in a shaded area and
put a separate bag of ice on top. Afterwards, wash hands well with soap and
water and change clothes before having contact with
other birds. If VPH does not contact you about
testing the bird in 24 hours, dispose of
the bird in your regular disposal bin
(trash can).
If you have a sick pet bird:
2022 HPAI in Los
Angeles County Flyer
2022 IAAP en el
Condado de Los Angeles
What
is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1?
Avian
influenza (AI) or bird flu, is a viral infectious
disease of birds caused by type A influenza viruses.
Although AI viruses can naturally be found in waterbirds,
the current strain of H5N1 that is circulating in the
U.S. and globally has been the cause of illness and
death in a greater variety of wild bird species than in
previous AI outbreaks. The virus is also of
concern for domestic poultry as it is highly contagious
and may cause significant illness and death in backyard
and commercial flocks.
Is
HPAI in Los Angeles County?
As of October
2022, the first cases of avian flu or bird flu have been
confirmed in LA County. These cases are part of
the ongoing nationwide bird flu outbreak, also known as
HPAI H5N1.
*Updates to this map will be sporadic (not weekly).
What
is the risk to human health from HPAI?
At this time,
the risk to the general public's health from the current
HPAI H5N1 virus is low. However, some people may
have job-related (animal control, veterinary clinic,
poultry processing plants, etc.) or recreational exposures to birds that
put them at higher risk of infection. People who
work with birds or handle sick birds should wear
personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N-95
respirator, disposable gloves, properly-fitted eye protection,
fluid-resistant disposable gown or coveralls, footwear that can be
disinfected (e.g. rubber boots) or boot covers and head
or hair cover. For more information about
protective actions that should be taken when handling
birds, see
here.
HPAI Guidance for Animal Control, Shelter and Veterinary
Facilities in Los Angeles County 10.27.2022
CDC Recommendations for Worker Protection and Use of
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Reduce Exposure
to HPAI H5 Viruses / (En
Español)
What is the risk to wild birds and domestic
birds from HPAI?
HPAI H5N1 is
primarily a disease of poultry (chicken, turkeys) and
may cause significant loss in backyard and commercial
flocks. In wild birds, the infection may cause
mild to severe illness depending on the species
affected.
What
are the symptoms of HPAI in poultry (chickens, turkeys)?
-
Sudden death of bird with no clinical
symptoms
-
Lack of energy
-
Inappetence
-
Swelling of head, comb, eyelid, wattles
and hocks
-
Discoloration of wattles, combs and legs
-
Nasal discharge
-
Coughing
-
Sneezing
-
Neurological signs (incoordination)
-
Diarrhea
What
are the symptoms of HPAI in wild birds?
How
does HPAI spread?
The virus
spreads through direct bird to bird contact or
indirectly when virus is on clothing, footwear,
vehicles, rodents, insects, feed, water, feathers, etc.
Birds release or shed the virus in bodily fluids such as
respiratory droplets, mucus, saliva, and feces.
Help to
reduce the spread and risk of avian influenza:
-
Take down bird feeders and bird baths to
reduce interactions between wild birds
and domestic birds and to reduce
contamination of the ground/environment
with wild bird droppings
-
Avoid contact with wild birds, even if
they don't look sick
-
Avoid surfaces that may be contaminated
with saliva or feces from wild or
domestic birds
-
Keep dogs, cats and other pets away from
wild birds
-
Do not handle sick or injured birds.
Contact your local animal control agency
for help. Call 211 to find your
local animal control agency or click
here.
-
Report sick or dead birds to Veterinary
Public Health (VPH) by completing this
reporting form and emailing it to
vet@ph.lacounty.gov. The
public may report dead birds using the
VPH online reporting portal.
Tips for keeping backyard or commercial poultry
healthy:
Protect your Poultry from Avian Influenza - USDA
Social media posts to share or post
Please consider sharing or posting these images to
increase awareness about HPAI. Click on each image
to make it larger.
Wild Birds Can Spread Avian Influenza
Did You Know About
HPAI?
Protect Birds
in Your Community
Protect
Pet Birds From Bird Flu
Help Limit
the Spread of Bird Flu
MORE INFORMATION
2022 Detections of HPAI in
the United States - United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA)
Bird Flu Current Situation - CDC
Information on Bird Flu - CDC
Influenza - Protective Actions Around Birds -
CDC
2022 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
EPA Information on Antimicrobial Products to Use Against
Avian Influenza - Environmental Protection Agency
Recommendations for Worker Protection and Use of
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Reduce Exposure
to HPAI H5 Viruses / (En
Español)
- CDC
General Information about Avian Influenza
What is avian influenza?
-
Avian influenza (AI) refers to a family
of influenza (flu) viruses that commonly
infect birds.
-
There are many strain of AI viruses.
They are classified based on
proteins found on the surface of the virus itself.
These are called H (hemagglutinin)
and N (neuraminidase).
-
Depending on the strain involved, AI
viruses can occasionally jump to humans and many
animal species, causing symptoms of flu.
-
Some of most important
AI viruses are those that cause severe disease in
poultry. These are referred to as
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
How is AI transmitted to
people/animals?
-
In the wild, AI viruses can be carried
by waterfowl (ducks, geese) - these
birds usually do not have symptoms of
flu but can shed or release the virus in their
feces (poop).
-
Domestic birds like poultry (chickens,
turkeys) become infected when they come
in contact with waterfowl feces
containing the virus.
-
Objects or equipment used
to care for animals can
become contaminated and
spread the virus to
other animals if not
cleaned properly (e.g.,
clothing, footwear,
vehicles, feed, water,
feathers, rodents, other animals).
-
In addition, infected domestic birds can
pass the virus to each other through
direct bird-to-bird contact or through
saliva, mucus, feces, or respiratory
droplets.
-
Humans may become infected with some
strains of AI through close, direct
contact with infected poultry. Human to
human transmission of AI rarely occurs.
What are symptoms of AI?
Animals:
-
Depending on the strain involved,
infected birds can show any of the
following: no symptoms, respiratory
discharge, swollen eyes or head, lack of
appetite, lack of energy, weakness,
diarrhea, respiratory distress (trouble
breathing), sudden death, or nervous
signs such as swimming in circles,
tremors, or lack of coordination.
-
Click
here to learn more
about AI in animals.
(CFSPH)
Humans:
-
As in animals, symptoms
of AI in people vary
with the infecting
strains. Common symptoms
include: fever, cough,
muscle aches,
conjunctivitis and
sometimes pneumonia.
-
Click
here to learn more
about AI infections in
humans. (CDC)
What is the
treatment for AI?
What should I do to prevent AI in animals or myself?
Biosecurity
and infection control are key to prevent
the spread of AI to animals and people. This
includes:
-
Take down bird feeders and bird baths.
This helps to reduce interactions
between sick and healthy birds as well
reduces the chances that wild birds will
interact with domestic or pet birds.
-
Keep pet birds indoors
-
Do not let pet birds have contact with
wild birds
-
Isolate sick birds
from the healthy ones
-
Wear appropriate
personal protective
equipment (PPE) when handling
sick birds (mask, gloves, eye protection,
dedicated clothing that can be laundered
and footwear that can be disinfected)
-
After touching birds, wash hands well
with soap and water
-
If you have poultry or backyard flocks
at home, be sure to wash hands and
change clothing/disinfect footwear and
equipment before you handle your birds,
especially if you have visited areas
with wild birds or other poultry
-
Report sick/dead poultry
to
Veterinary Public Health
with this
form or by calling 213-288-7060 or
emailing
vet@ph.lacounty.gov.
Last updated: December 28, 2022
