Bird flu detected in backyard flock in San Mateo

The presence of H5N1 was confirmed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and San Mateo County’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures is advising backyard poultry owners to watch for signs of avian influenza in their flock and to take appropriate biosecurity measures such as washing hands before and after handling birds and disinfecting footwear to reduce the risk of spreading bird flu.

“It’s important for residents who keep chickens and other birds in their yards to protect their flock and themselves from H5N1. There are simple actions every flock owner can take to prevent the disease from spreading,” Koren Widdel, San Mateo County’s agricultural commissioner, said in a press release.

H5N1 has been detected in multiple counties throughout the California, with seasonal wild bird migration creating a high-risk period for all poultry owners, including those with backyard flocks. The disease is mainly spread by wild birds, especially in waterfowl such as ducks and geese, and through contact with the virus from surfaces such as hands, shoes, clothing or feet and the fur of rodents and other animals. Bird flu is highly contagious among birds and often fatal. Clinical signs of H5N1 in poultry include sudden death, trouble breathing, clear runny discharge from the nose, mouth or eyes, lethargy, decreased food and water intake and swelling. 

To help reduce the spread of bird flu:

• If your poultry experiences any unusual/suspicious illness or death, contact your veterinarian or the California Department of Food & Agriculture Sick Bird Hotline (866) 922-2473.

• Avoid touching or handling injured wildlife, including wild birds. For sick, injured or dead wild birds not on private property call the Peninsula Humane Society at (650) 340-7022 or report to the appropriate California state agencies. 

• For suspected bird flu in domestic cats or dogs, contact your veterinarian.

• If you suspect that you have contracted bird flu, contact your doctor.

The California state veterinarian has placed a ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows until further notice to protect the unaffected herds and flocks across the state. Since August 2024, bird flu has been detected in 700 dairy herds and 60 poultry flocks, affecting over 15 million birds in California.