Bird Flu Found in Buncombe County
Recently a dead bird discovered at Lake Julian Park tested positive for H5N1—bird flu.
Parks staff have identified a total of eight deceased waterfowl at the park; additional test results are pending.
Parks Department and Public Health Department staff are working with state partners, including representatives from the Wildlife Commission, Communicable Disease, and Agriculture Department on next steps to undertake. Steps under consideration are:
- Public notification
- Park signage
- Cleaning protocols
- Monitoring and testing in the event of human exposure
- Protocols for proper handling of sick or deceased animals
State health officials are not recommending the closure of the park, noting that it is not common for the virus to transmit from animals to humans. The CDC reports that in the entire United States there have been 67 confirmed total reported human cases, and one death (in Louisiana) associated with H5N1 Bird Flu.
According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, symptoms of bird flu include fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, and red, irritated eyes, a signature sign of bird flu.
Everyone should avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals. If you must have contact, wear personal protective equipment including gloves and a mask. Don’t touch surfaces with saliva, mucus, or feces from wild or domesticated birds or other animals.
In particular, people who may come in contact with birds, such as backyard flock owners, pet owners, or hunters, should take precautions. Wash your hands frequently and stay up to date with your seasonal flu vaccine. Buncombe County Health and Human Services provides flu vaccines at no cost.
Worldwide, more than 950 cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organization; about half of those have resulted in death. In North Carolina, three commercial flocks—representing 3.3 million chickens—have been impacted by bird flu, according to a USDA dashboard.
