In a sobering update on the avian flu situation, nine birds were euthanized in the Pearl Harbor vicinity after being linked to a prior outbreak at Susie's Duck Sanctuary in Wahiawa. The birds, part of a backyard flock, included two adopted from the said sanctuary, and unfortunately, showed signs of infection necessitating their euthanasia; seven additional birds were also euthanized due to potential exposure, marking a distressing but necessary action to prevent further spread of the disease. The property has since been decontaminated, and no further infections have reportedly been confirmed since the last found in a North Shore duck on November 25, as reported by KITV.
The grim sequence of events was compounded when the Hawaii Department of Agriculture confirmed another backyard flock of birds in the same area infected with H5N1, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, including the two ducks previously adopted from Susie’s Duck Sanctuary before the sanctuary's outbreak Hawaii has had its share of incidents with an earlier report involving 70 birds on November 15, and another incident involving nine birds on November 18, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's dashboard—both listing have raised alarms over the potential for a wider spread of the H5N1 strain, as per KITV.
A family's backyard flock became the focal point of latest concerns, with both ducks adopted from the sanctuary testing positive for H5N1, leading to their quarantine and eventual euthanasia in efforts to contain the virus, informed The Star Advertiser. Additionally, following a report of more than a dozen dead zebra doves on a Kaimuki property, tests were carried out which fortunately returned negative for H5N1, offering a sliver of relief amid the otherwise escalating situation.
With the risks looming over Oahu's bird population, the state's response to report sick or dead birds, particularly when multiple birds are affected, continues to be of critical importance anyone noticing such instances can directly contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture at 808-483-7102 during business hours or 808-837-8092 after hours.
