Massachusetts Response to Avian Influenza

Avian influenza (also known as avian flu or bird flu) is a naturally occurring viral infection of birds. There are many types of avian influenza viruses. One particular type of avian flu, H5N1, has been spreading rapidly in birds in parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. A small number of human cases of H5N1 have been reported. Avian influenza viruses of any type rarely cause disease in humans. At this time, the H5N1 virus has not been found in birds in Massachusetts or the United States. According to health officials, H5N1 rarely spreads from person to person. If H5N1 avian flu is identified in the United States, the risk of human infection will likely be greater from contact with infected domestic poultry than from contact with wild birds. Almost all human cases of the H5N1 avian flu have involved people with prolonged direct contact with live poultry.

With a grant of $40,000 from the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, MassWildlife, will be collecting 400 samples from waterfowl and other migratory birds from June through December of 2006, for purposes of testing for H5N1 avian influenza. Samples will be taken from resident Canada geese and mallard ducks, Long-tailed ducks, Common eider and other migratory birds. These birds have been identified by regional biologists as primary species to monitor for avian influenza. The wild bird sampling procedure is part of a nationwide surveillance effort that involves state and federal wildlife agencies. Samples are being taken from a limited number of birds in different parts of the state and will be tested at a USDA approved lab at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

When three (3) or more sick, dying, or recently dead waterfowl (duck and geese), shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers), or other waterbirds (herons) are found at any single location they should be reported to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife's Westboro Field Headquarters at 508/389-6300 or the USDA/APHIS-Wildlife Services MA/CT/RI Program at 413/253-2403. Agency staff will evaluate the situation and make arrangements for collecting the birds. Events involving other types of dead birds can be reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Information Line at 1-866-MASS-WNV. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health collects information about the location of dead birds during the mosquito season, and tests some of these birds for West Nile Virus, to help identify geographic areas where WNV may be present as well as help decide where additional mosquito surveillance should be done.

Annually, during late June through July, MassWildlife biologists conduct goose "round-ups" wherever large flocks of resident Canada geese are found: cemeteries, parks, golf courses, beaches, and residential neighborhoods. The purpose of this activity is to capture Canada geese, place leg bands on them and record information from any captured birds that already have leg bands from previous years. This information is used to help waterfowl biologists estimate populations and other demographics. The birds are then released back on site. This year (2006), due to the new avian influenza surveillance program, biologists will also be taking fecal samples from the birds for testing.

At this time of year, most adult geese have moulted (shed) their flight feathers and are unable to fly. Adult geese and their goslings (young geese) congregate on water bodies for protection and graze on grasses and other young green growth within walking distance of water. This is a window of opportunity for biologists to capture the birds, band them and then release them. To capture the birds, biologists set up a temporary "goose weir" consisting of a long net hung on poles pounded into the ground. Meanwhile, other staff will try to get geese flocked together and when the fencing is complete, herd them towards the "wier". Sometimes this entails several people in canoes that move the whole flock up on to the grass near the weir. Personnel stationed on the ground clap, wave a paddle and assist in herding the birds into the weir. Once the flock is safely within the weir, the net is closed and the birds are confined. Most of the time, all goes well, but there are times when the geese manage to avoid the staff and get away.

Once confined, the biologists takes a bird from the flock, determines the bird's age and gender, then places a leg band on the bird. Another technician records the information for data entry. The technique used for avian influenza surveillance involves swabbing the bird's cloaca (common chamber for reproduction and waste elimination) for a fecal sample. After this procedure is completed, the bird is released. The goose returns immediately to the water to gather with the rest of the flock. Fecal samples are being taken from a limited number of birds across the state and will be tested at USDA approved lab at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

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Response to Avian Influenza