Denver residents are receiving a critical health reminder after the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, within local wild bird populations. The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is urging the community to maintain a safe distance from sick or deceased birds and to avoid personal and pet contact with any potential carrier. As outlined in a recent release from DDPHE, bird flu can spread to humans, albeit rarely, through contact with infected birds' saliva, mucous, or feces.
The department cautions that the risk to the public remains low; nevertheless, transmission can occur when the virus is airborne, through droplets or dust, and inhaled, or via contaminated surfaces. It's particularly risky when individuals touch their faces after contact with these particles. According to DDPHE, human infection usually follows close, prolonged, and unprotected exposure to infected birds.
For the uninitiated, symptoms of sick birds include tremors, lack of coordination, and swelling around the head, neck, and eyes. Observing listlessness, coughing, gasping, sneezing, or diarrhea in birds can also indicate a possible infection. Residents who discover sick or dead birds are advised to avoid them and to restrict pet access to these areas to prevent potential transmission, as pets also face a low, yet real, risk of infection through contact with infected birds or poultry.
