Kaiya Provost, PhD, and K.C. Rondello, MD, discuss the risks of bird flu to area birds, pets and humans—and how Adelphi is safeguarding our campus
Long Island is home to 213 species of flourishing and endangered birds—from Canada geese to mourning doves, from gulls to robins, according to Avibase-The World Bird Database—all of which are vulnerable to the highly contagious bird flu (H5N1).
When it comes to avian flu, Kaiya Provost, PhD, an ornithologist and assistant professor in the Department of Biology in the Adelphi University College of Arts and Sciences, has predicted that “any wild or domestic bird has the risk of carrying and transmitting bird flu. However, on Long Island, it is most commonly associated with waterfowl and shorebirds like ducks, geese and gulls.”
Dr. Provost describes today’s bird flu situation as potentially “concerning, particularly given the risk of bird flu undergoing mutations to allow for human-to-human spread. For people, the greatest risk is mutating new strains that can be transmitted from person-to-person.”
Safeguarding Our Community
Keeping the Long Island and Adelphi community safe from infectious diseases such as bird flu is a top priority. K.C. Rondello, MD, clinical associate professor of public health and emergency management in the College of Nursing and Public Health and the College of Professional and Continuing Studies and special adviser to the Office of University Health and Wellness, notes that the office has been vigilantly surveilling the Adelphi community for patterns in disease transmission since the COVID-19 pandemic, and maintains contact with the Nassau County Department of Health to monitor disease transmission trends.
“Since the virus has not been found to be transmissible among humans, the risk to public health is minimal,” Dr. Rondello said. “However, should this or any other pathogen pose a risk to Adelphi community members, the Office of University Health and Wellness is prepared to implement appropriate protective actions to help ensure community safety.”
With an abundance of caution, Adelphi has removed all bird feeders to minimize visits by infected birds and safeguard the campus community.
For protection, Dr. Provost advised against handling wild birds—whether dead or alive—for any reason. “If you do see an injured, dead or strangely behaving bird, call animal control.”
Should the pathogen evolve, Dr. Rondello recommended observing the public health measures we are already accustomed to that protect against influenza. These include frequent handwashing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available; not touching your face; avoiding close contact with sick people or those showing flu symptoms; disinfecting frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, phones and light switches; maintaining a strong immune system with a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains; and staying physically active and well rested.
“If you feel sick, especially if you have any bird flu symptoms like itchy eyes, fever, sore throat, fatigue and so on, stay home to recover and call your doctor,” Dr. Provost recommended.
What About the Birds?
“For birds,” Dr. Provost added, “the mortality rates of new strains are high, and the risks are that entire flocks of birds can be killed en masse.”
A case in point: In January, 100,000 ducks from Long Island’s oldest duck farm were euthanized after the virus was detected in its flock. Dr. Rondello stated, “As this is accepted agricultural practice, there is every reason to suspect that the culling of these ducks helped limit the spread of H5N1.”
According to Dr. Provost, while such mass culling measures are unfortunate, the more individuals the virus infects, the more likely it will mutate to a strain that can damage people—which is why spread should be minimized.
A nearly 100 percent mortality rate in infected poultry flocks has led to mass culling—and higher egg prices.
“However, the risk of H5N1 transmission through properly prepared poultry or eggs is low, as cooking these foods to appropriate temperatures eliminates the virus. There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted to humans through properly stored and prepared food,” Dr. Rondello explained.
Protecting Pets
While cattle and rats have been identified as animal virus vectors, so are cats, which have been infected after killing or eating wild and domestic birds and died. “Please keep your cats indoors, and avoid feeding them raw or undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk,” Dr. Rondello urged.
Learn more at Bird Flu Watcher and the CDC’s Influenza resources.