In Philadelphia, public health officials have issued an alert after detecting avian influenza (bird flu) in a sick snow goose. The goose was found near Carroll Park on January 11 and tested positive for the virus. Officials are encouraging anyone who may have interacted with the bird or the area to contact the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Disease Control at 215-685-6741. Residents nearby were surprised by the discovery, as no human cases of avian influenza have been reported in Philadelphia so far.
Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, the city’s health commissioner, emphasized that the threat remains low but urged caution. More than 60 people across the country and one death have been linked to bird flu. The majority of confirmed cases were exposed directly to poultry farms or dairy herds. Earlier this month, 200 snow geese in the Lehigh Valley died, while over 120,000 chickens on a Delaware farm were impacted.
Wildlife experts advise against interacting with wild animals due to potential health risks and suggest contacting wildlife rehabilitators for assistance. Residents are encouraged to report sick birds they find by calling the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 833-PGC-Hunt or visiting their online tool. For more information, visit Philly’s bird flu updates page at Phila.gov.
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Source: https://6abc.com/post/first-suspected-case-bird-flu-philadelphia-detected-snow-goose-carroll-park/15826309