Bird Flu Outbreak: What Ocean County Residents Should Know

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — More than 1,000 dead or sick wild birds have been reported across New Jersey in recent days. Here's what Ocean County residents should know.

"The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are tracking incidences of suspected bird flu cases in wildlife around the state," said NJDEP Press Director Larry Hajna to Patch. Read more: Mysterious Bird Deaths Solved, NJDEP Reports 'Active Outbreak'

None of these have been reported in Ocean County, Brian Lippai, spokesman for the Ocean County Health Department, told Patch.

"The Ocean County Health Department has not received any calls about groups of dead waterfowl," Lippai said. "If someone does call, they are instructed to report it to the NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife. They will decide if birds are to be tested for H5N1."

While there has been a resurgence in the avian flu, also known as H5N1, Lippai noted that not all bird deaths are due to infectious disease. Natural causes of death are also a factor.

"Species such as waterfowl (wild ducks, geese, swans), raptors (eagles, falcons, owls, hawks), scavengers (vultures, crows, ravens), gulls and other waterbirds are highly susceptible to bird flu," he said. "Your typical backyard Songbirds including cardinals, robins, and sparrows, are not."

Avian flu, while dangerous for birds, poses little risk to humans.

"We want to remind our residents that bird flu is common - especially this time of year - and to be aware, but to also know the risk to humans is still considered low," Lippai said.

Lippai shared the following tips.

The NJ Department of Health and Fish & Wildlife recommends:

• While NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife does not advise that the public handle sick or dead wildlife, if you have a dead bird on your property and are choosing to dispose of the carcass, precautions should be taken:
• PPE should be worn, including gloves, a mask, and eye protection.
• Avoid direct contact between you and the animal by using a shovel to move the carcass.
• Double-bag each bird, close the bag using a zip-tie, and place it in an outdoor trash bin inaccessible to pets and other wildlife.
• Following disposal, at once wash your hands with soap and water and disinfect any non-disposable items using a diluted household bleach solution. Allow the disinfectant to sit on the item for 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
• Residents can also contact their local municipality or county to inquire about animal control services or private wildlife control services able to dispose of dead wildlife.
• If you see sick or dead birds, particularly groups of 5 or more dead birds, fill out the Wild Bird Disease Reporting Form on their website at: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza/

Residents should be able to protect their families by:

• Do not eat, drink, or put anything in your mouth while cleaning or handling game.
• Avoid cross-contamination. Keep uncooked game in a separate container, away from cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
• Cook game meat thoroughly. Poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 °F to kill disease organisms and parasites.
• Keep pets away from any dead waterfowl.