Second case of avian influenza (bird flu) confirmed in Salt Lake County
May 19, 2022, 6:59 PM
The spread of the avian flu has officials at Tracy Aviary taking precautions for its eagles and other exhibits. The avian flu is a disease that is spread from wild migrating birds to backyard animals such as chickens. The CDC confirmed Thursday the first human case of avian influenza in the U.S. Photo: Division of Wildlife Resources
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has confirmed five cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or bird flu. Officials reported the latest case this week in Salt Lake County.
It is the second case of bird flu in Salt Lake County. Three cases have been reported in Cache County, and another in Utah County.
Latest case of bird flu in Utah found in flock with access to wild birds
According to the UDAF, officials found the latest case of bird flu in Utah on the west side of Salt Lake County. Officials detected the case in a flock of backyard birds. The owner reportedly told officials that their flock had access to wild waterfowl, and they contacted the Utah state veterinarian after experiencing a high death rate among the flock.
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“We urge bird owners with flocks of all sizes to take extreme caution with their bird’s habitats,” said Utah State Veterinarian, Dr. Dean Taylor.
“The more potential exposure the birds may have to wild and migrating birds, the greater the risk of the flock contracting the disease.”
Officials ask anybody that owns birds in Utah for continued vigilance against avian flu. Symptoms of avian flu in birds include nasal discharge, decreased appetite and decreased water consumption, lack of coordination, and high death loss among flocks. Utahns with birds or flocks experiencing these symptoms are asked to immediately contact the state veterinarian’s office at statevet@utah.gov.
And in general, Utahns are advised to limit contact with wild birds.
Nationally, as of May 19, the CDC reports that 35 states have reported poultry outbreaks. U.S. officials have detected bird flu in nearly 38 million poultry since January 2022. As of April 28, 2022, there has been one human case of bird flu in the United States.
Counties reporting bird flu in the U.S. as of May 19, 2022. Image accessed May 19, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/data-map-commercial.html
