A snow goose found in West Philadelphia has been confirmed to be infected with bird flu. Philadelphia health officials reported that the threat to the public remains low but have issued an alert due to precautionary measures. The goose was found near North 59th Street Carroll Park on January 11 and tested positive through preliminary testing by the state of Pennsylvania. Residents who may have come into contact with this sick snow goose in the area are encouraged to contact the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Disease Control at 215-685-6741 for reporting details.
Health officials remind Philadelphians to stay vigilant about wild birds, including snow geese and other waterfowl, as they are common carriers of bird flu. Those with concerns regarding sick backyard chickens should contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 24/7 via their hotline at 717-772-2852.
Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Commissioner of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health, emphasized that while the threat remains low locally, it is important to continue monitoring both within the city and across the nation due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak. This incident follows similar reports of sick snow geese in other parts of the region, including the Lehigh Valley and Delaware state. Nationally, nearly 1,000 dairy herds have tested positive for H5N1, with over 60 people reported cases across the country, including one fatality.
The health department stresses that most confirmed cases were exposed to poultry farms or dairy herds rather than wild birds. The Philadelphia Health Department remains committed to working with local wildlife experts and public health officials to ensure residents are protected from potential risks while also addressing this critical public health concern. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about updates through their local news sources and consider subscribing to free Patch newsletters for alerts on local happenings.
Source: https://patch.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/bird-flu-infected-goose-found-west-philadelphia-health-department