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Northeast Tri County Health District and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) ask the public to avoid contact with birds and other wild animals, especially sick or dead wild animals or their young, to prevent the spread of avian influenza, also known as bird flu. In February 2024, three skunks located in Stevens County tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain.Since May 2022, an outbreak of avian influenza has been impacting wild birds across Washington, the northwest, and globally. Avian influenza has been detected in cases of wild mammals in our state. These positive cases of HPAI in wild mammals include a bobcat in northeast Washington, several seals in Puget Sound, and three raccoons in various locations across the state. People and their pets should avoid all contact with sick or dead wildlife. While infections from avian influenza are rare among people, human infections can happen when the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or inhaled. People may be at greater risk of avian influenza infection during close or lengthy unprotected contact (not wearing respiratory protection or eye protection) with infected birds, animals or surfaces contaminated with saliva, or feces of infected animals. It is exceedingly rare for domestic dogs and/or cats to become infected with avian influenza. Regardless, avoid contact between pets and sick or dead animals.
To protect your health and that of your pets, Northeast Tri County Health District recommends the following: - Avoid direct handling of sick or dead birds, or other wildlife. Do not attempt to transport these animals to a veterinarian, rehabilitation center, or your own property for treatment, as this can spread disease. - Use this online form to report sick/dead wild birds or animals suspected of avian influenza to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a384e90f69744f2e846135a9ce80027f - Report sick/dead domestic birds to Washington State Department of Agriculture’s public phone line: 1-800-606-3056. - Keep your pets from scavenging or interacting with dead wildlife. Avoid practices that cause birds to congregate in large numbers such as feeding waterfowl. - Do not harvest sick or found dead birds. - Wear disposable gloves when cleaning harvested birds or bird feeders. - If you must move a dead animal to prevent pet contact, wear gloves, double bag it, and place it into the garbage, bury it, or incinerate it. - Do not place it in an open field where scavengers can access the carcass. - Ensure all equipment (boots, clothes, vehicles, firearms) used in areas with large bird populations or known cases of HPAI are cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of diseases. - Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning game. - Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. Use of water and soap is the preferred method. - Wash work surfaces or tools used to harvest birds. Follow instructions on bleach container for a 10 percent solution. - Avoid cross contamination of raw meat with cooked or ready-to-eat foods. (Freezing does not kill the bird flu virus) - Cook game birds thoroughly, internal temperature of 155 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. - Do not allow your domestic flock to interact with wild aquatic birds (ducks, geese)
Do you know where in Stevens county they found the Skunks?
I'm assuming the skunks may have got the disease from coming into contact with dead birds on the ground. Last year was a good hatch, turkey numbers have been strong all fall and winter, I hope this doesn't wipe out our turkey population!
