Bird flu found in Vermont backyard flock; agency sees "low risk to the public"
The H5N1 bird flu was found in a backyard flock in Vermont, the state's agricultural agency said Thursday.
The small flock of 24 non-commercial birds in Franklin County was quarantined and put down. The first bird death happened on Dec. 18 and the owner notified authorities on Dec. 19 as more birds died.
"Low risk to human health"
The agency said bird flu "is considered to be low risk to human health," but the people who came in contact with the infected birds and their surroundings are being monitored by the Vermont Department of Health. There have not been any human cases reported in Vermont or New England from this current outbreak of bird flu in the United States.
The Vermont case of "highly pathogenic avian influenza" is not the same strain that's currently affecting dairy cattle in other parts of the country, the agency said in a statement. This is Vermont's fourth case of bird flu in a domestic flock since 2022.
"Despite the low risk to the public, the virus remains deadly to many species of birds," the agency said. "All bird owners, from those who own backyard pets to commercial farmers, are strongly encouraged to review biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks."
Bird flu cases in the U.S.
On Dec. 18, the Centers for Disease Control reported that a person in Louisiana had the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S. That person was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, the CDC said.
There have been 65 reported human cases of bird flu in the country, according to the CDC. Most have come from California and were linked to exposure to infected cattle.
Besides the Louisiana instance, all known human H5N1 cases in the U.S. have been mild, with patients reporting conjunctivitis and upper respiratory symptoms.
