Dead vultures found in Radford and the counties of Smyth, Wythe, Russell, Washington and Tazewell are confirmed or suspected victims of avian flu, a disease that can wipe out chicken flocks and has driven up egg prices in recent years.
But while cases of the disease among black vultures are a new phenomenon, Southwest Virginia poultry farmers need not panic as long as they maintain precautions to protect their flocks, says a Virginia Tech poultry scientist.
WJHL-TV reported on Oct. 29 that dead vultures found in the Washington County town of Glade Spring tested positive for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. Dead vultures also were found last month in the nearby town of Saltville, which straddles the Washington-Smyth county line, and a few miles north in Tazewell County, according to news reports.
According to Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources spokesperson Shelby Crouch, the department is aware of confirmed vulture deaths from avian flu in Glade Spring, Saltville and Wytheville, with a preliminary positive case in the Tazewell County town of Richlands. There are suspected cases of avian flu deaths among vultures in Radford, Marion in Smyth County, Castlewood in Russell County, Rural Retreat in Wythe County and Pounding Mill in Tazewell County, Crouch said.
Elsewhere in Virginia, there have been confirmed cases in wild birds in Albemarle and Goochland counties and the cities of Danville and Colonial Heights, according to Crouch.
When the department says “cases or reports,” Crouch wrote in a Nov. 5 email, “that often includes numerous birds and typically isn’t one bird. Cases/reports include confirmed and suspected cases. Suspected but not confirmed cases could include ones where the carcasses were too degraded to get samples, staff was not in the area to obtain samples, the carcasses were not available or additional surveillance samples were not needed for that species in that county/region.
The disease can spread from wild birds to poultry, cattle and other mammals.
The Virginia Department of Health notes on its website that humans rarely get avian flu. “When they do, it’s most often after unprotected contact (not wearing recommended personal protective equipment, PPE) with infected birds or other infected animals,” the site says. Most people who have caught the virus have had mild illness, and there is currently no evidence that the disease is spreading from one person to another, the department states.
Implications for farmers
The Health Department reports that this virus has been detected in wild birds in the United States since January 2022: “This has led to several outbreaks in domestic and backyard poultry flocks. In March 2024, the first outbreaks of H5 bird flu in dairy cattle were reported in the United States. Infections in other animal species have also been reported.”
Avian flu deaths of black vultures are a new development, according to Michael Persia, a Virginia Tech professor and poultry nutrition specialist. It’s likely that the vultures encountered the carcasses of other wild birds and became infected, he said.
Vultures move around more than smaller wild birds, which could help explain the recent cases, Persia said. “My guess is that it’s probably a one-off” series of deaths and not a long-term indicator of a new spread pattern, he said, adding that more test results are needed to gain more clarity.
The first avian flu case detected in Virginia involved a mixed flock of poultry, with domesticated ducks interacting with infected wild ducks, then passing the virus to a chicken flock, according to Persia.
October and November are typical times when the virus recurs as migrating wild birds carry it on their travels, Persia said. During warm summer weather, the virus is not as stable, he explained.
Consequently, avian flu has not become endemic to bird populations, according to Persia. If it becomes endemic, it will be a greater threat to domesticated birds, he said.
During cold weather, poultry producers need to be more wary as their birds are cooped up in barns with limited ventilation, Persia said.
Most poultry farms in Southwest Virginia are small operations with 40-50 birds and as many as 200, according to Persia. Some “backyard producers” keep bird feed and water outside, which can attract potentially infected wild birds, he said.
Avian flu moves through domesticated birds quickly, and producers often discover the disease when they find dead birds, Persia explained. However, farmers can look for symptoms such as respiratory “snicking,” like a quick coughing burst, along with nasal discharge and swelling around the bird’s head and comb, he said.
Persia said during the fall and winter, producers should try to isolate flocks from wild birds with measures such as covering up a chicken run and moving food and water supplies indoors. Farmers should wash their hands frequently, try to avoid stepping on wild bird feces and keep an old pair of shoes near the coop to put on before entering it.
Persia noted that Virginia’s poultry industry is very proactive about protecting against avian flu and does better than neighboring states, in his experience. Nothing is foolproof, but Virginia farmers are taking the threat seriously, he said.
Virginia Cooperative Extension conducts several in-person and online training sessions on avian flu, according to Persia. Anyone interested in training or receiving more information from Extension can learn more at https://ext.vt.edu.
Precautions
The state health department advises the following precautions for anyone who could get exposed to the virus:
- Wash your hands after touching birds and other animals.
- Keep a safe distance from wild birds and other wild animals.
- Wear personal protective equipment if you routinely handle birds.
- Don’t drink unpasteurized milk or eat raw milk products.
- Get the seasonal flu vaccine.
The Department of Wildlife Resources advises residents to contact the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 855-571-9003 or email wildlifehealth@dwr.virginia.gov if you see five or more dead vultures, waterfowl, shorebirds or seabirds within five days; sick or dead eagles, hawks, owls or turkeys; or 10 or more dead wild birds of any other species within five days.
The department says anyone who encounters a dead bird should take these precautions:
- Wear rubber or disposable latex or nitrile gloves, a face mask, eye protection and protective clothing.
- Carcasses should be buried on site or double-bagged and incinerated, or disposed of in a secure trash can or landfill.
- Clean equipment with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10% chlorine bleach solution or hospital-grade virucide.
- After encountering a bird, bag your boots and washable outer clothing upon return and immediately launder them.
Unusual poultry illnesses or deaths in backyard flocks or on poultry farms should be reported to the state veterinarian’s office at 804-692-0601, by email to vastatevet@vdacs.virginia.gov or contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 866-536-7593.
You can find more details on the wildlife resources department’s website.
Additional information can be found on the health department’s website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/influenza-flu-in-virginia/avian-flu/.