Questions & Answers

Outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza in Asia and Europe have raised questions about the possible spread of the disease in the United States. This strain has not been detected in North America, but the Missouri Department of Conservation is nevertheless cooperating with state and federal agencies in a surveillance effort aimed at early detection. Should it arrive in North America, early detection will increase the chance of isolating and eliminating highly pathogenic H5N1 before it can become widespread.

Question: What is Avian Influenza?

Answer: Avian Influenza is a virus that occurs naturally in several species of birds, including waterfowl and shorebirds. There are many subtypes of Avian Influenza classified by the combination of two groups of proteins found on the surface of  the virus: hemagglutinin or H proteins, of which there are 16 (H1-H16), and neuraminidase or N proteins, of which there are nine (N1-N9). Most subtypes of Avian Influenza are not harmful, but certain combinations of the above proteins emerge that often are fatal to chickens and turkeys. Based upon their effects on chickens, the different subtypes are referred to as highly pathogenic or low pathogenic. Low pathogenic avian influenza is not harmful to humans and generally has little or no effect on wild or domestic birds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza is often fatal to domestic poultry and spreads more rapidly.

A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza called highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has caused mortality in several species of wild birds. It was first reported in domestic poultry in Asia and has since spread to some wild, migratory waterbirds in Asia and Eastern Europe. It has accounted for approximately 200 human deaths. Almost all human cases to date have been associated with direct exposure to infected poultry, eating uncooked poultry, or contact with saliva, nasal discharge or feces of infected poultry.

Question: How concerned should Missourians be about low pathogenic H5N1?

Answer: Individuals should not be concerned. Low pathogenic avian influenza currently poses no health threat to humans.

Question: How concerned should hunters of turkeys, ducks, quail, and other birds be about highly pathogenic H5N1?

Answer: At this time, Missouri hunters should not be overly concerned about H5N1, but should take normal precautions when handling game and should stay informed about the issue. The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the risk to humans from highly pathogenic H5N1 is low. The strain of highly pathogenic H5N1 virus found in Asia and Europe has not been found in the United States. There have been no human cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza in the United States.

Question: What precautions should hunters take when handling game?

Answer: Hunters should take routine, common sense precautions when handling game. Precautions recommended by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center include:

  1. Do not handle or eat birds that are obviously sick or birds found dead. Contact an MDC employee or federal natural resource agency if you find sick or dead birds.
  2. Thoroughly washing hands with soap and water (or with alcohol-based hand products if the hands are not visibly soiled) after handling and cleaning birds.
  3. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning or handling birds.
  4. Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game.
  5. Keep your game birds cool, clean and dry.
  6. Clean all tools and surfaces immediately after cleaning birds; use hot soapy water, then disinfect with a 10 percent chlorine bleach solution.
  7. Cook game meat thoroughly (well done or 160 degrees F).

Question: Is Missouri doing anything to monitor for the presence of H5N1 bird flu in Missouri?

Answer: The Missouri Department of Conservation works closely with the USGS National Wildlife Health Center to monitor for sick or dead birds. Waterfowl are susceptible to a number of diseases and Department personnel regularly submit samples to the National Wildlife Health Center for diagnosis. In addition, each winter states participating in the Mississippi Flyway Council share reports of large-scale die offs and the National Wildlife Health Center provides updates about potential diseases that could affect waterfowl within the Flyway. The Department of Conservation is currently working with the National Wildlife Health Center and the Mississippi Flyway Council to coordinate surveillance efforts. An effort to monitor Missouri waterfowl for avian influenza began with the 2005 waterfowl season. Samples taken from hunter harvested birds are analyzed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Test results are available on the USDA website . Early results indicate no highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, however; as expected low pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been detected. It was detected in one northern shoveler from Otter Slough.

Question: Are there other monitoring efforts in place?

Answer: The National Wildlife Health Center has been strategically sampling migrating birds for H5N1 in the Pacific Flyway in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Alaska, and the Alaska Science Center. If wild birds are carriers of H5N1, Alaska is where entry to the United States is expected to happen. They also continue to monitor reports of migratory waterfowl and shorebird mortality events for presence of H5N1. In cooperation with the states including Missouri, the USGS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the USDA are already conducting a coordinated, more comprehensive surveillance and detection program.  In Missouri, the department is coordinating surveillance and communications efforts with other state agencies as well.

Question: Where do ducks and geese that migrate through Missouri come from?

Answer: Most ducks that migrate through Missouri each fall come from the Prairie Pothole Region of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. Most migrant geese that come through Missouri each fall nest in the arctic or along the coast of Hudson Bay. Migrant giant Canada geese come from Manitoba, Minnesota, Iowa, and surrounding states.

Question: Will the low pathogenic strain of avian influenza effect the poultry industry?

Answer: No. The finding of low pathogenic avian influenza does not pose an increased risk to poultry in Missouri. Low pathogenic avian influenza is not uncommon in the United States and it generally has little or no effect on wild or domestic birds. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has established an enhanced program to monitor domestic poultry for avian influenza. The agency will continue its monitoring to protect the state’s poultry industry.  

Question: Should homeowners discontinue birdfeeding?

Answer: No. The CDC reports that there is no evidence of highly pathogenic H5N1 having caused disease in birds or people in the United States. At the present time, there is no risk of becoming infected with highly pathogenic H5N1 virus from bird feeders. Generally, perching birds are the predominate type of birds at feeders. While there are documented cases of H5N1 causing death in some perching birds (e.g., house sparrow, Eurasian tree-sparrow, house finch), in both free-ranging and experimental settings, none occurred in the U.S. and most of the wild birds that are traditionally associated with avian influenza viruses are waterfowl and shore birds.

Question: Where can I get more information?

Updated: March 03, 2008