Virus Alert: Birds in Cass County Found With Avian Influenza

If you have chickens or any other flocks of birds and you are near Cass County, Michigan, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been detected.

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What is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza?

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is an extremely contagious, multi-organ systemic disease found in birds that can spread rapidly, resulting in high death rates in different species of birds, particularly poultry.

Can Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Kill Humans?

There are lots of reasons to be concerned about an outbreak of HPAI if it gets into poultry and humans eat that poultry before the virus is discovered. HPAI viruses in poultry have been associated with illness and death in humans in several countries around the world.

How Does Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Affect Humans?

HPAI can affect humans with mild upper respiratory tract symptoms, lower respiratory tract disease, severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, encephalitis, and multi-organ failure just like in poultry. As of October 3, 2023, there has been a total of 244 cases of human infection with 136 of these that were fatal.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Cass County, Michigan

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza had been detected in a Cass County flock. There were roughly 60 birds in the flock from a variety of birds found in Michigan that tested positive for the virus.

If you have chickens, turkeys, or any other flocks of domestic birds you must keep them from coming in contact with wild birds of any sort. If a large chicken farm were to become infected, most of the birds would die and the rest would have to be killed therefore raising the price of chicken. Keep your feed where no birds or rodents can have contact. If you have free roaming chickens you are asking for trouble. It is best if you have poultry to keep them inside or make sure outdoor areas are fully enclosed with a rooftop so no wild birds can enter.