FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – HEALTH ALERT

December 13, 2022

Contact: Public Information Officer Chuck Smith, 530-844-0453, 530-822-7100

Risk remains low to human population, but Sutter County among 41 California counties where avian flu has been detected; caution required with wild birds

On December 6, 2022, the California Department of Food and Agriculture notified Sutter County that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in wild birds in Sutter County. In total, avian flu has been detected in 41 counties: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Lassen, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Trinity, Ventura, Yolo, and Yuba.

Avian flu (also called bird flu) is a disease caused by certain flu viruses that usually spreads between birds, not people. The risk to humans remains extremely low.  Infected birds can spread the virus through their mucous, saliva or feces. People rarely get bird flu, but when they do, it’s most often through direct unprotected contact (no gloves, protective wear, facemasks, respirators or eye protection) with infected birds. People can become infected by breathing virus in droplets in the air or possibly dust, or by touching surfaces contaminated with infected bird mucous, saliva or feces and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose. Human illness from bird flu has ranged from no symptoms at all to severe illness, resulting in death. The greatest risk of exposure to humans is by direct contact (touching, butchering, etc.) with an infected bird. Sutter County Agriculture Department, Sutter County Public Health, and Sutter County Sheriff Department reminds the public not to touch, move or interact with wild birds. Report any unusual or suspicious sick or dead domestic, pet, or collection birds immediately via the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473.

If you are a hunter who had close contact with potentially infected wild birds:

Wild birds can carry bird flu without appearing sick. As a general precaution, people should not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead. Hunters who handle wild birds should dress game birds in the field when possible and practice good biosecurity to prevent any potential disease spread. If possible, wear gloves when dressing birds, and wash hands with soap and water afterwards.

USDA has more information available on preventive actions for hunters: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/2015/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf.

Further information can be found here:

CDC, Recommendations for Worker Protection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Reduce Exposure to Novel Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Disease in Humans

CDC, What To Know About Bird Flu

CDC, Avian Influenza Transmission Infographic

CFDA, Avian Influenza Updates

CDFA, Backyard Biosecurity for Poultry