photo by: Chris Conde

A flock of geese at Baker University Wetlands on Jan. 14, 2022.

The U.S. and Kansas departments of agriculture have issued a warning to Kansans to protect their poultry and waterfowl.

A flock of birds in Franklin County was reported to have the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Franklin County borders Douglas County directly to the south. The flock was a mixture of different birds at a home farm including chickens, ducks, and other types of birds, said Heather Lansdowne with the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

“We are encouraging everyone to do what they can to prevent exposure to their own birds,” Lansdowne said.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture has released guidelines for bird owners to increase their biosecurity practices by limiting the exposure that their flocks have with wild birds, especially waterfowl.

The guidelines include removing potential nesting areas and covering feeding areas to prevent attracting passing flocks. In addition, ensuring that the human element doesn’t introduce the virus into the bird’s environment by wearing clean shoes and clothing when interacting with a domestic flock and washing vehicle tires and equipment after visiting other farms or areas where waterfowl may be present. Isolate any new birds before introducing them to the flock, the department recommends.

“If you take a walk around the local duck pond with your dog, then you and your dog and your car could carry that disease back home to your birds,” Lansdowne said.

The symptoms of the flu include coughing, sneezing, respiratory distress, a lack of energy, and decreased or irregular egg production. There is no known cure or treatment for the avian flu if a bird gets sick. The HPAI bird flu has a 90% mortality rate for chickens within 48 hours of symptoms and ducks can contract the virus and show no symptoms, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The HPAI bird flu isn’t a concern for sickness in humans, Lansdowne said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has zero reports of the flu in humans in the United States.

Food supplies aren’t at risk either, she said. The meat and eggs from the infected flock will not enter the food system, and there have been no reports of large suppliers being infected. The flock in Franklin County will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.

“At the time it’s not widespread enough that it has had an impact on food supply,” Lansdowne said. “But it is damaging and devastating to any facility, operation, or home-farm that is exposed.”

Lawrence allows ducks and female chickens to be kept at residents with a limit of 1 bird per 500 square feet of property and up to 20 birds total without a permit, according to city ordinance.

“Watch for signs of illness in your birds and call the vet or call us immediately,” Lansdowne said.

State officials did not release more specific information about where the infectious birds were located in Franklin County.

To find more information about the HPAI bird flu visit the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s websites at agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza or call 833-765-2006.