June 9, 2024 – Mariposa County Health & Human Services officials issue information on how H5N1 Bird Flu is spread.

You may have heard about Bird flu (Avian flu, H5N1) in the news recently, but what exactly is that?

Avian influenza is a type of novel influenza virus. While most wild birds can be infected with bird flu viruses without being sick, poultry (like chickens and turkeys) can get very sick and die from certain bird flu viruses. If you have poultry, your birds can get bird flu if they have contact with infected wild birds or share food, water sources and other environments with them.

We do not have any documented cases in Mariposa County but there are cases in California.

Three protective actions that you can take around birds and other animals:

• Whenever possible people should avoid direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses. Wild birds can be infected with avian (bird) influenza (flu) A viruses even if they don’t look sick.
• Avoid unprotected contact with domestic birds (poultry) or other animals that may be sick or have died or are suspected or known to have bird flu virus infection.
• Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, animal feces, raw milk, animal litter (bedding material), or materials contaminated by wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected bird flu virus infection.

Poultry are likely to appear sick when they are infected with bird flu. If you had close contact with obviously sick or dead poultry, or surfaces contaminated by them, contact Mariposa County Public Health at (209) 966-3689.

Source: Mariposa County Health & Human Services