Here in Pennsylvania
https://extension.psu.edu/avian-influenza

If you suspect HPAI in your BackYard Flock ( Swans ), contact:

• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) emergency number:   ( 717 ) 772-2852
  • (press option 1 to reach the veterinarian on call)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) toll-free hotline at   1  ( 866 ) 536-7593

This is a Topic that I Hoped I would Never NEED to Post to SwanLovers.net

Click Images to Enlarge.

I am going to Post a Basic Summary here as of November 2022

InterChangeable Terms:
Avian Influenza – Bird Influenza – Avian Flu – Bird Flu.

Every Spring for the Past 12-15 Years, I have Scanned
the Internet for Articles Posted about Positive Avian Influenza Cases.
I made Note of which U.S. States had Positive Cases.

Outbreaks are all too Common in Other Countries..

*******************

Avian Influenza Outbreaks are Increasing around the World.
During the Opening Weeks of 2022, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
found a Total of 317 New Outbreaks in Poultry were Reported by 25 Countries and Territories:

Europe is having Large Outbreaks in Wild, Domestic Birds and their Poultry Industry.

European Countries are Culling many Millions of Birds trying to Control the Spread..

HPAI A(H5N1) is One of the most Contagious Viruses occurring among Birds.
Infected Wild Birds on their Migratory Route are the Main Way that these
Viruses are Spreads. Birds Shed Avian Influenza A Viruses
in their Saliva, Nasal Secretions, and Fecal Waste.

Hundreds of Species of Bird and Waterfowl Carry these Viruses.
There are Numerous Strains of Avian Influenza.. Appx. 144 are Possible.
Some are Mild.. but, the Deadly Strains are Just that.. Deadly.

More CDC Information if you Want to Read it..
https://tools.cdc.gov/medialibrary/index.aspx#/microsite/id/297550

Until this Year, it has been a Rarity for the Avian Influenza Virus to be Found
in the Northeastern United States.  Pennsylvania is in the Atlantic Flyway.

No Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses had been
detected in Pennsylvania since the 1983-84 Outbreak.

*************** This Warning was Issued in Early 2022.

In January 2022, the Virus was First Detected along the Atlantic Flyway in South Carolina.
As the 2022 Spring Bird Migration moved North Numerous States along the East Coast
Reported Positive Cases in Wild Birds and Several BackYard Flocks.

WildLife Organizations had to Turn Away Sick and Injured Birds Fearing their
Facilities would be Contaminated and Sicken or Kill the Birds Currently in their Care.

By March 25, 2022 Millions of Birds in at least 17 States were being Rapidly Killed
in a Determined Attempt to bring a Dangerous Strain of Avian Flu under Control.

As of April 15, 2022, Infected Birds in Commercial and Backyard Poultry Flocks
had been Confirmed in 27 States including most States surrounding Pennsylvania.

April 18, 2022 a Dead Bald Eagle found in Chester County, PA Tested Positive !
So it Began in our State of Pennsylvania.

PYS.ORG  https://phys.org/news/2022-12-million-birds-affected-outbreak-avian.html

The Wildlife Futures Program and
the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS),
Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine has ramped up its HPAI-related Diagnostics Work,
supporting agencies including the Pennsylvania Game Commission and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture in monitoring for the disease
.  .  . in both wild and domestic birds.

Even when there is not an Active Disease Outbreak,
PADLS regularly performs Avian Influenza Tests as part of Statewide
Surveillance Monitoring .
“We are available every weekday and are on call over the weekends.”

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – USDA

In May 2022, USDA says Department of Agriculture Reports Bird Flu in 34 States.

This Year the Deadly Virus has been VERY Active in Pennsylvania.
Statewide, HPAI has Infected at least 17 Commercial Turkey and Chicken Farms
and at least One Backyard Flock, leading to the Culling of more than 4.2 Million Birds.”

Numerous Poultry Farms in Lancaster County PA were Quarantined for Months..

As of October 2022, 45 States had Positive Cases..
More then 44 Million Domestic-Commercial Poultry have been Depopulated
on Poultry Farms in Multiple States.

Resulting in the Price of Turkey, Chicken and Eggs to Increase.

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Updates

Bird Flu Current Situation Summary
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-summary.htm

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

H5N1 Bird Flu Detections across the United States (Backyard and Commercial)
This Site will Show the Distribution of Avian Influenza across the U.S.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/data-map-commercial.html

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Realistically, Swan Lovers are Helpless to Prevent this..
Until an Effective Vaccine is Available..  This may be a Long Way Off.
I have been Reading about the Challenges of Developing Effective Vaccines
for the Poultry Industry.  What Additional Costs will this Mean ??

What Vaccine Dose is Effective ??
How Long does the Effective Immunity Last ??
How Often will Booster Vaccines be Needed ??
Will there Still be Mild Active Cases in the Birds ??
Will this Lead to Mutations and New Variant Strains of the Viruses ??
How do Farms Monitor Thousands of Birds ??
Will People be Willing to Consume Poultry that was Vaccinated ??

France is Working on this Research for the Poultry Industries.
Culling to Control the Avian Influenza Viruses is Not Working as Hoped.
Millions of Ducks, Geese, Turkeys are Destroyed during OutBreaks.

Having a Vaccine for our BackYard Poultry is not Realistic in 2022.

Since December of 2019 Covid-19 and its Variant Viruses have Spread
to ALL Parts of the World and has been Handled Differently by each Country.
If this has done Anything, it is to make Humanity AWARE of how Difficult
it is to Control and Avoid a Tiny Protein Fragment that we can not See.. ( SIGH )

We are now Living with the Covid Viruses.. it is Endemic – here to Stay.
These Avian Influenza Viruses are now also Endemic in North America.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

To Protect our BackYard Poultry and Captive Pet Pond Swans –
The Standard Recommendation is:
To Put our Domestic Waterfowl INSIDE during Spring and Fall Migration Seasons..

Spring Migration Averages February through Early April.
Fall Migration Averages Late September through November.

Swans would be Sheltered Inside 5 to 6 Months of the Year.
Swans become Hormonal and Start Mating in January.

Swans NEED to be in 3 to 5 Feet of Water to Safely Mate..
NOT in a Kidde Pool. This would be Dangerous for the Pen.

Mute Swans are Nest Building in March..

They Continue Mating as BIG Eggs are being Laid in their Nest.

I Can NOT Imagine Confining our Swans this Way..

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

There are Lots of Informative Websites
to Read for the Location of Current Avian Influenza Outbreaks.

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-summary.htm

The Current Policies of Individual States..
What to Do.. ??? Who to Call.. ???
when your Healthy Domestic Pets Die Suddenly with NO Warning.

FIRST STEP    WEAR MASK and GLOVEs. 
Carefully Place your Pet/Bird in Double Plastic Bags.
Keep in a Cool Place.       Wash Well Afterwards.

Consult your States Department of Agriculture..AS SOON as Possible.

Here in Pennsylvania
https://extension.psu.edu/avian-influenza

A New Lines of Research by Penn Vet Researchers aims to understand
at the Genetic Level, the Reasons this Particular Virus is causing so much Harm.

If you suspect HPAI in your BackYard Flock ( Swans ), contact:

• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) emergency number:  ( 717 ) 772-2852
  • (press option 1 to reach the veterinarian on call)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) toll-free hotline at   1  ( 866 ) 536-7593

For Questions Concerning your ** Domestic Poultry.

>>> IN PENNSYLVANIA – Reporting Requirements
If you Suspect your Domestic Poultry is Infected with Avian Influenza,
PLEASE Report your Concerns 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services
at ( 717 ) 772-2852, Option 1.

This Information Helps the State Know what Areas
or Counties need to be Watched or Warned..

*********

Report Sick Domestic Birds or Unusual Deaths
to State/Federal Officials, either through your State Veterinarian
or through the U.S Department of Agriculture.  ( USDA )
>>> Contacted Toll-Free at 1 ( 866 ) 536-7593.

Diagnosis of Avian Influenza
www.cdc.gov/CDC – GOV?flu/avianflu/wildbirds.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

>>> Report Sick or Dead Wild Birds to:
The Pennsylvania Game Commission at
1 ( 610 ) 926-3136 or pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov.

They will Provide the Current Information about what to do with these Birds.

Call and Someone may come for a Test Sample.
These Agencies have Trained Staff to Collect Samples.
DO NOT Take Dead Birds to Anyone..Unless Instructed.

WEAR MASK and GLOVEs. 
Carefully Place the/these Dead Birds in Double Plastic Bags.
Keep in a Cool Place.       Wash Well Afterwards.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Poultry Owners should get a Premise Identification Number
from the State Department of Agriculture.
Applications can be Filled-out Online by Clicking on
the “Premises Registration Form” Link at www.agriculture.pa.gov

This will Allow the Dept of Agriculture to WARN you
if Avian Influenza is Found in your Area.

If you have had Contact with Sick or Dead Domestic or Wild Birds
and are Not Feeling Well, Contact your Primary Care Physician
or the PA Department of Health at 1 ( 877 ) 724-3258.

If Any of these Phone Number do not Work..
Check OnLine for a Number..

**************************
SUDDEN Death of Healthy Waterfowl/Poultry.
Seeing your Pets Die Suddenly is Shocking.

Clinical Signs of Avian Influenza.
The Incubation Period is Hours to Days, Depending on Age, Sex,
Species affected, Concurrent Infections and Pathogenicity of the Virus Strain.

Mortality is Rapid with the Virulent Strains.
“We have seen Cases where the Birds were Perfectly Fine,
and then TWO Hours Later, a Third of the Flock was Dead.”

Poultry: You will Observe Unusual Behavior, Nervous Disorder,
Depression, Sinusitis, Off Feed and Diarrhea may be seen.
Their Upper Respiratory System Fills-up with Fluid,
Notable Respiratory Distress, Coughing, Sneezing, Rales.

At their Endpoint, the Birds may Suffer Hemorrhagic Conditions.
You may see Spots of Blood around their Nares,
Bruising of the Face and Legs as they Succumb to the Disease.

The Presence of Clinical Disease alone is not Diagnostic.
There are other Viruses and Pathogenic Bacteria that are also Deadly.

Duck Viral Enteritis – DVE Spreads during Migration.
Duck Plague is a Worldwide Disease caused by Anatid alphaherpesvirus –
1 of the family Herpesviridae that causes Acute Disease with High Mortality
in flocks of Ducks, Geese, and Swans.

***********

Avian Botulism – Anaerobic Clostrida Bacteria that Secretes Deadly Toxins
are commonly found in Sticky, Decaying, Organic Mud.

Avian Botulism causes Flaccid Paralysis.  Infected Birds often show Weakness,
Lethargy, Inability to Walk, Fly, or Hold their Heads up.
Paralysis can Lead to Drowning before Progressing to a more Advanced Disease State.
The Degree of Clinical Signs depends upon the Amount of Neurotoxin Ingested.

We Lost both of the Sweet Pens below to Avian Botulism soon after Nesting.

There are Many Viruses and Bacteria that can Infect our Domestics.
With a Wide Range from Mild to Deadly Affects.
You will Only Know the Cause of the Death by having them TESTED !

TYPE OF SAMPLES FOR Avian Influenza DIAGNOSTICS
Swabs of the Trachea or Oropharynx and Cloaca are used to Test
for Influenza Virus.

The Preferred Sample for Waterfowl is a Cloacal Swab.

*******************
How Long does Avian Influenza Last in the Environment?
Avian Influenza (AI) Viruses can Survive Outside a Host for Long Periods
depending on Temperature and Humidity of the Environment.
The Virus can LIVE for up to One Month Inside a Poultry House at 40 ºF.

Species Affected:
Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Pheasants, Ostriches, Peacocks, Sea Gulls,
Vultures, Crows, Hawks, Owls, Eagles, Quail, Geese, Swans, Etc.

>>> ANY Feathered Bird.

*******************
Avian Flu Symptoms for Birds – Sudden Death without any Physical Signs.
Lack of Energy, Coordination and Appetite.  Diarrhea.
Nasal Discharge, Swelling of the Head, Eyelids, and Hocks.
Purple Discoloration of the Wattles, Combs, and Legs.
Soft-Shelled or Misshapen Eggs.

*******************
Per the USDA – In October 2022
Currently if you have a Domestic Bird or Birds Test Positive…
they are NOT Requiring your Healthy BackYard Poultry to be Destroyed..

But, they will Ask you to Quarantine your Property for 10-14 Days.
No Movement of Poultry during that Time..
*******************

Requirements will be Different for Commercial Poultry Farms.

******* Various States along the East Coast are having Fall OutBreaks.

*******
During the Summer and Early Fall of 2022, I have heard Too Many SAD Stories
of Captive Pet Swans Dying SUDDENLY – No Warning, NO Signs of Illness.
A few have been Tested.. Most Positive for Avian Influenza..

The Healthy Swans above Died within 36 Hours of Each Other.  SHOCKING.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Many of the Photo Images I have Included were Found Online.
I want to THANK All these Photographers.
We ALL Want to Alert Other of this Terrible Avian Virus.

Updated December  2022   by Linda M. Sweger

I HOPE ALL Your Swans & Pet Poultry will be OK.
It will be a Scary Time for ALL of Us during Migration Seasons…
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Take Time to Enjoy your Swans Every Day..