Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been detected in Orange County, with cases affecting waterfowl, raptors, and even mammals like skunks across New York. Health officials say there have been no human infections in the state since 2022. Haley Motola, an epidemiologist with the Sullivan County Department of Public Health, is closely monitoring the virus and its potential spread.
Radio Catskill’s Benjamin Land spoke with Motola about the virus and what her department is doing to prevent the spread into Sullivan County.
“ So bird flu is Actually part of the Influenza A family H5N1 is the technical term where we call it HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza),” described Motola. “A kind of influenza that usually only impacts wild birds especially waterfowl has gotten into the commercial poultry industry as well as backyard chicken owners and as well as the dairy production industry.”
The Cornell Wildlife Health Lab and the Sullivan County Department of Health recommends being on the lookout for dead birds, especially multiple species in one place. If you do happen to find a swath of deceased birds, the New York Department of Conservation recommends reporting it here.
Another way to take precautionary measures against bird flu is by avoiding raw milk, especially if it has not been heated or tested according to Motola.
“ We’ve seen spillover from poultry into dairy cows which concerning because it’s a mammal. So it’s closer to humans,” Motola said. “It’s a very high risk dealing with something that’s a biological substance that could be contaminated with bacteria.”
The Sullivan County Department of Health also recommends getting your regular flu shots as a means of lessening the severity of the symptoms of bird flu in the unlikely event of contracting the virus.