Dead Birds on Lake Michigan Shore Raise Bird Flu Concerns in Chicago
Experts believe a bird flu outbreak is responsible for hundreds of dead birds washing ashore on the beaches of Chicago.
Various bird species in large quantities have been found on the shores of Chicago this past week, according to NBC 5 Chicago.1 Health officials claim bird flu was responsible for the death of ducks, red-breasted mergansers, and Canada geese as melting Lake Michigan waters washed them ashore.
“The district has deployed personnel to check all beaches and park lagoons after receiving reports of impacted birds at multiple locations,” said the Chicago Park District. “The district is addressing the removal and disposal of carcasses from park property.”
Lake Michigan in the winter | image credit: pyzata / stock.adobe.com
Dead birds were reported over the weekend and found on multiple Lake Michigan beach locations up into the Chicago suburbs. Residents reported several sightings at Oak Street Beach, North Avenue Beach, and Tower Beach in Cook County to the south of the city. Towards the center of Chicago, residents and conservation crews reported dead birds at 31st Street Beach, 12th Street Beach, and Ohio Street Beach.
“The Illinois Department reminds the public to not handle waterfowl or other birds displaying illness, nor transport birds to veterinarians, wildlife refuges, wildlife rehabilitators, etc,” said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in a statement.1
READ MORE: H5N1 Bird Flu: A Slowly Looming Public Health Threat
The current situation regarding outbreaks of avian influenza viruses, or bird flu, is that the disease has minimal risks of infecting humans as just 67 confirmed cases and 1 death have been reported in the US. However, the issue remains persistent among animals throughout the country, with over 150 million poultry and nearly 1000 dairy herds infected by the virus, according to CDC data.2
As the disease continues to impact wild birds and dairy cattle, public health officials have continuously relayed messages regarding safe and proper precautions to take when encountering a wild bird. While officials hope to stop the spread of the bird flu among animals before it reaches humans, it’s important for humans to be knowledgeable about the virus in order to keep the population safe.
The main factor leading to a pandemic-level bird flu outbreak would be human-to-human transmission of the virus. While this has yet to be reported for the bird flu, the process of an animal passing the disease to humans has the opportunity to evolve and become a more dangerous virus down the line.
“There's a low risk to the average American out there. The people who should be concerned are those who work in an occupation that puts them at risk. People working on poultry farms or with close contact to livestock should be listening to their public health authorities and wearing appropriate protective equipment and reporting symptoms, should they get [the virus],” said David Hill, MD, director of clinical research at the American Lung Association, in an interview with Drug Topics.3
Similar to the situation experts have seen nationwide, recent bird flu events in Chicago have led officials to take the recommended precautions for curbing the spread of the virus and keeping the community protected. As other areas of the country have seen bird flu spikes at different times of the year starting last March, Chicago is the latest locale to experience a significant uptick in virus-related bird deaths.
“We've had bird flu before. Really not this variety, not this species, and certainly not the number of birds that are being found and reported,” said Director of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors Annette Prince.1 “We weren't getting as many reports from Chicago, but beginning in the middle of last month, we started getting more and more reports.”
The city of Chicago has reported various instances of bird flu in the past month as multiple zoo animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo were euthanized after bird flu complications. With the bird flu reported in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin, it has become an alarming public health issue for Midwestern America.
“While avian influenza generally poses a low risk to the population, it is essential to take the necessary steps to avoid exposure, and to seek treatment quickly if you are exposed,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, MA.1 “We encourage all Illinoisans to follow the advice of the experts at IDNR in order to avoid contact with sick birds, and to take any potential exposure seriously. These common-sense steps can help reduce the likelihood of spreading this illness.”
READ MORE: Severe Case Results in First US Bird Flu Death
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