Wildlife Health

Avian Influenza
Last updated October 2009

Monitoring & Testing

American Wigeon

Contacts: Kristin Mansfield WDFW Veterinarian (509) 892-1001, ext. 326 or cell (509) 998-2023 Margaret Ainscough WDFW Public Affairs Director (360) 902-2408 While it's highly unlikely that hunters or people feeding birds could contract avian flu from wild birds here, following these standard precautions reduces the risk of contracting any wildlife disease: Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead. Wear rubber gloves while cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders. Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game. Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. Wash tools and work surfaces used to clean game birds with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10 percent solution of chlorine bleach. Separate raw meat, and anything it touches, from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination. Cook game meat thoroughly, to an internal temperature of 155 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

2009-10 Washington Sampling Plan: Goal and Objective

The overall goal of this state-level effort is to detect HPAI H5N1 in wild birds if it occurs in Washington during July 2009 through June 2010. This goal, and the goals of the national strategy and the Pacific Flyway strategy, is focused on early detection of HPAI H5N1 in wild migratory birds —not its prevalence over time, its rate of movement, or the ecology of the disease. This document is intended as a step-down approach from the draft U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan (Interagency HPAI Early Detection Working Group [IAEDWG ] 2006) and the Pacific Flyway strategic plan (Pacific Flyway Council 2006, as amended in 2007), as part of the National Early Detection System for HPAI H5N1.

The objective of this document is to provide an implementation plan for sampling wild bird species for HPAI H5N1 in Washington State, including sampling priorities, focus periods, and target locations. Planning for these surveillance efforts for HPAI H5N1 has involved extensive cooperation among federal, state, and local agencies, including U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS/Wildlife Services (USDA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Washington Interagency Avian Influenza Coordination Committee (including the agencies listed above and the Washington Department of Agriculture, Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Washington Department of Health, Washington Military Department, and Washington Emergency Management Division).