https://www.wbaltv.com/article/bird-flu-fishermans-park-black-vultures-dead-harford-county/40037072
Updated: 6:19 PM EDT May 18, 2022Infinite Scroll Enabled
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DARLINGTON, Md. —
A number of cases of avian flu, or bird flu, have been detected in Harford County, the Maryland Department of Agriculture reported.
Bird flu was discovered after more than 100 black vultures were found dead at Fisherman’s Park near Conowingo Dam, according to the U.S. and Maryland departments of agriculture.
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Poultry farmers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are also feeling the effects.
| RELATED: Avian influenza found in flock of commercial chickens in Maryland (March)
After a February outbreak of bird flu in Delaware, there is now evidence the disease has made its way to Maryland, most likely spreading through migratory birds and poultry.
“Raptors, vultures, migratory waterfowl and poultry seem to be the species that are carriers for the disease,” Deputy Maryland Agriculture Secretary Steve Connelly said.
The MDA said poultry farmers on the Eastern Shore have noticed sick birds since March. Bird flu is currently in 35 states and has infected more than 38 million birds.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore became concerned when the vultures were found dead in Harford County.
“It’s scary because our No. 1 priority for us is our bird collection safety,” said Jen Kottyan, curator of birds at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Constellation, which runs the park, closed a number of trails to the public in an effort to curb the spread.
For the first time, zoo officials are enacting bird flu protocols.
“We’re trying to keep any of the wild birds away from the collection of birds, so you’ll notice that some of the exhibits have empty pools or they have shade cloth or limited access, or even in the case of our penguins, no access. We’re just going exhibit to exhibit and trying to assess what the risks are,” Kottyan said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s rare for humans to contract bird flu, but it can happen.
Agriculture officials provided what’s perhaps some promising news, saying a majority of migratory birds have already flown north and warmer weather could make things better.
“The temperature is warm, up for prolonged periods of time — warm or hot weather — but that will help decrease the viral load that’s out in the wild birds,” Connelly said.
| USDA LINK: 2022 Detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza
| MDA LINK: Avian influenza
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