Hundreds of wild bird deaths reported across seven counties, prompting park closures

Hundreds of geese person reportedly died successful New Jersey, and vertebrate flu is suspected to beryllium the culprit.

More than 1,100 dormant oregon sick chaotic birds — astir each of them Canadian geese — were reported betwixt Feb. 14 and Feb. 16 crossed 7 counties, according to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Although tests are inactive pending, officials accidental the deaths were apt caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), much commonly known arsenic vertebrate flu, which is simply a respiratory illness of birds caused by influenza A viruses.

POPULAR HONEYMOON DESTINATION FACES AVIAN MALARIA THREAT, SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES 

"I find the images of the dormant and dying birds precise troubling, unsettling, and a reminder that avian flu continues to beryllium present," David J. Cennimo, MD, subordinate prof of medicine and pediatrics and an infectious diseases specializer astatine Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, told Fox News Digital.

"It is important to enactment that astatine the clip of this writing, the origin of decease has not been announced, and vertebrate flu is lone powerfully suspected, but the representation is accordant with avian influenza, and determination is simply a bully crushed for the high-level suspicion."

Hundreds of geese person reportedly died successful New Jersey, and vertebrate flu is suspected to beryllium the culprit. (iStock)

Some section parks person temporarily closed retired of an "abundance of caution," including Betty Park and Alcyon Park successful Gloucester County.

"Residents are asked not to attack immoderate geese successful oregon astir the area," the Borough of Pittman advised successful a societal media post.

COLORADO DECLARES DISASTER EMERGENCY AS PRESUMPTIVE BIRD FLU OUTBREAK HITS FACILITY WITH 1.3M CHICKENS

Common symptoms of HPAI among birds see diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, discharge from the chemoreceptor and deficiency of coordination, according to DEP. Some birds, however, whitethorn dice from the microorganism adjacent if they ne'er look to beryllium sick. 

While geese person made up the bulk of the New Jersey fatalities, avian influenza besides poses a hazard to chickens, turkeys and ducks.

Although the hazard to the nationalist is low, wellness officials urge avoiding nonstop interaction with chaotic birds oregon animals that could beryllium infected. (iStock)

"We person seen cases of avian influenza successful different animals, astir notably dairy cows and cats," Cennimo said. "If possible, home animals should beryllium kept distant from sick birds."

Although the hazard to the nationalist is low, wellness officials urge avoiding nonstop interaction with chaotic birds oregon animals that could beryllium infected.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"Public consciousness and precautionary measures are indispensable to mitigate the interaction of vertebrate flu connected some agriculture and nationalist health," the DEP stated.

Avian influenza viruses proceed to dispersed successful chaotic vertebrate populations, Cennimo said, and transmission tin beryllium amplified by adjacent congregations of birds. This tin hap during a play of freezing temperatures, erstwhile determination is constricted availability of water.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"The hazard to humans remains debased astatine this time," the adept confirmed. "If the birds did dice of influenza, they could inactive person unrecorded microorganism and could infect humans. For this reason, radical should debar handling sick oregon dormant birds, usage protective measures similar gloves and lavation their hands."

"It's bittersweet from an ecological perspective, but it besides poses a hazard to immoderate adjacent cultivation facilities."

Rebecca Carriere Christofferson, PhD, subordinate prof of pathobiological sciences astatine the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, noted that wide vertebrate deaths are a grounds of ongoing transmission of vertebrate flu.

Bird flu spillover has been detected successful poultry and dairy cattle successful the past mates of years, an adept said. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

"It's bittersweet from an ecological perspective, but besides poses a hazard to immoderate adjacent cultivation facilities, arsenic we've seen spillover into poultry and dairy cattle successful the past mates of years," she told Fox News Digital. "The much transmission, the much the accidental for determination to beryllium transmission to humans."

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Last year, determination were immoderate quality deaths owed to vertebrate flu, chiefly linked to interaction with infected animals, Christofferson noted.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Surveillance is cardinal to preventing uncontrolled spread, and knowing the patterns of wherever the microorganism is — and is going — tin assistance mitigate the ongoing hazard to our carnal and quality populations."