Over 200 birds at the Baker’s Lake Forest preserve in Illinois are suspected to have died from an outbreak of H5 avian flu.
“This represents a very significant change in the behavior of the virus. Up until this point we’ve only seen groups of two, three, half a dozen birds succumbing to it. In this instance, we actually have hundreds of birds that have succumbed to it,” he said.
“We have millions of birds moving from the south to the north and places like this they can become infected and move the virus along.”
Millions of chickens and turkeys raised on commercial farms across multiple states have been killed this year due to flu. In Illinois, two incidents of outbreaks have been reported in Carol and McLean counties.
The disease is said to be spreading from droppings of wild birds like geese and ducks. The flu was initially discovered in Indiana in February and was the first such infection in the country since 2000.
Baker’s Lake preserve is home to one of the most significant heron rookeries in the Midwest. The impact of avian flu has so far been observed only among waterfowl and water birds.
Passerines, which include perching birds like sparrows, songbirds, and finches have not been infected by the flu. As a result, the Forest Preserves has not issued a recommendation to remove birdfeeders that limit any potential transmission.
“Avoid unprotected contact with domestic birds (poultry) that look sick or have died … Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from wild or domestic birds,” the agency warns.