The state of Hawaii is facing its first confirmed cases of avian flu, marking a significant development amid the current virus outbreak affecting birds across the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the infection on November 18, 2024, after samples from domestic flocks were tested at the Hawaii State Laboratories Division and verified at the agency's National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
The CDC reports the virus has already caused severe impacts nationwide, infecting over 100 million poultry flocks, entering 10,000 wild birds, and affecting more than 500 dairy herds. Fortunately, local health authorities maintain the public health risk remains low. Still, they caution residents to avoid close contact with sick or dead birds, livestock, or wild animals.
The Hawaii Department of Health initially confirmed avian flu cases on Friday prior to the USDA announcement. The strain identified corresponds with those infecting dairy cows and domestic poultry on the mainland. Public sentiment has been tense, particularly among poultry farmers and animal rescuers.
At the heart of this avian flu outbreak is Susie’s Duck Sanctuary, located in Wahiawa, where the first cases were discovered. The sanctuary's founder, Susan Wilkinson, reported on social media about the heart-wrenching situation: twenty of her rescued birds died rapidly, and authorities had to euthanize over seventy more to prevent the virus from spreading.
Wilkinson shared her initial disbelief at the situation, believing her birds may have been poisoned. Symptoms among affected birds varied, with some showing signs of neurological distress, including twitching and head twisting, dramatically raising concerns about the severity of the outbreak.
Dr. Isaac Maeda, the state veterinarian, emphasized the importance of rapidly mitigating the situation to prevent the virus's spread. He stated, "The decision was made because of the fact this was the first detection we’ve had. What we want to do is try to get rid of the viral load to prevent its transmission."
On November 2, some of Wilkinson's birds participated without visible signs of illness at the Mililani Town Association’s Pet Fair, increasing anxiety among festival-goers. The health department reassured the public stating human transmission is low, and visitors who interacted with birds at the fair were advised to monitor for flu-like symptoms.
The situation has drawn the concern of officials throughout the Pacific. Following the avian flu discovery, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) quickly took action, imposing a ban on imports of live poultry and hatching eggs from Hawaii. The CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources expressed the need for strict measures to protect local flocks and wildlife, arguing, "If HPAI can reach Hawaii, it can reach here. Our goal is to take every precaution to protect our poultry industry."
Hawaii's case is not isolated. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), known for causing high mortality rates among poultry, has led to heightened caution as migratory bird season approaches. This virus is classified as zoonotic, posing risks to other animals and potentially humans, especially for those close to infected birds.
The rapid spread of avian flu among bird populations has officials on high alert. Agricultural departments across various states are closely monitoring developments, urging poultry owners to conduct daily health checks and immediately report any unusual symptoms or bird deaths.
State officials are hopeful this swift action will help to contain the outbreak and protect Hawaii's unique wildlife and poultry industry. Dr. Maeda reminded the public, "There's still much we can do to prevent this from affecting our health and local agriculture greatly."
While the avian flu situation continues to evolve, health authorities remain vigilant, prepared to protect the public, local wildlife, and poultry from potential devastating effects.
