Avian flu case is a timely reminder for Waltham poultry owners to take precautions

A new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a backyard flock in Duke’s County (which includes Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands), prompting state officials to remind poultry owners across Massachusetts to step up biosecurity measures.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources announced on Jan. 6 that a flock in Dukes County tested positive for the virus and was safely culled to prevent further spread. No contaminated products appear to have entered the food system, the agency said.

The announcement follows reports of dead wild waterfowl along the Charles River last year that were suspected of having HPAI. 

MDAR is urging poultry owners in Waltham and throughout the state to keep birds enclosed, eliminate standing water and avoid allowing “free-range” access to wetlands or ponds that attract wild ducks and geese. The virus spreads through contact with droppings, feathers, or contaminated soil, and infections in domestic poultry are often fatal.

While seasonal flu remains widespread in Massachusetts, avian influenza rarely infects humans. No human cases of HPAI have been reported in the state, and public health officials say the risk to the general public remains low unless there is direct contact with infected birds.

Residents can help by:

• Reporting sick or dead poultry at www.mass.gov/reportpoultry.
• Reporting multiple wild bird deaths at www.mass.gov/reportbirds.
• Avoiding contact with sick or dead wildlife.
• Keeping cats indoors and dogs leashed, since pets can also become infected.

Health and wildlife agencies continue to track the virus statewide, emphasizing that wild waterfowl — common along the Charles — can carry and spread the disease across regions.

For more information and answers to common questions, visit www.mass.gov/lists/frequently-asked-questions-about-avian-flu.