USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
Jan. 6, 2026, 10:59 a.m. ET
- Nearly 20 swans were found dead at Orlando’s Lake Eola within a month, with bird flu confirmed as the cause.
- City officials are disinfecting the park, have posted warning signs, and are advising visitors to avoid contact with birds.
Within a month, nearly 20 swans were found dead over the course of a week in Orlando’s Lake Eola, with city officials now confirming bird flu is the cause.
Two dead swans were initially found on Dec. 23, and the number had grown to 19 by Jan. 5. The Orlando Sentinel reported that all the deceased swans were Royal Mutes, noting that a report published last year by the British Trust for Ornithology found that Mutes were particularly susceptible to avian flu.
According to a city news release, avian influenza is responsible for the deaths. A previous outbreak of bird flu killed four of the park’s swans in 2024, as well as 11 other birds around the lake.
Where is Lake Eola?
Lake Eola Park is located in the heart of Downtown Orlando. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d10058.248284236744!2d-81.372778!3d28.54361055!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x88e77ae34d79ceeb%3A0xe5ebfa3195f24aec!2sLake%20Eola%20Park!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1767104545972!5m2!1sen!2sus
How many birds died in total at Lake Eola?
As of Jan. 6, 21 birds have died, which the Sentinel reported includes an anhinga and an ibis.
What are officials doing about the Lake Eola swan deaths?
Before getting the necropsy results, city officials said they were treating the situation as the “worst-case scenario” and handling the deceased birds in accordance with safety protocols and PPE. They have confirmed that they will continue disinfecting parts of the park and have already placed signage informing visitors about the outbreak.
“The city is taking all necessary precautions as recommended by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), as well as local veterinarians, to keep our community safe and limit the spread of Avian Influenza,” the City of Orlando said in a statement.
City officials were advised to let the virus run its course and allow the flock to build immunity, which could take roughly a month.
What is bird flu?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that bird flu is caused by avian influenza A viruses (H5N1) that typically spread among birds. It occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds.
It’s very contagious among birds, and the risk of bird flu increases in the fall and winter as migratory birds carrying the virus move around the country. The virus is shared by infected birds’ saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. It’s also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.
There are two types of H5N1: Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
Can humans get bird flu?
The risk to the public from bird flu is rare, according to the CDC. If they do, it’s most often through direct unprotected contact with infected birds or other infected animals.
Eye redness has been the predominant symptom among recent U.S. cases of bird flu. Symptoms are similar to those of the common flu, including fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, eye irritation, and fatigue, according to the CDC.
No person-to-person bird flu transmission has been reported.
City officials advised visitors to take the following precautions when visiting Lake Eola Park:
- Avoid direct contact with birds and only observe them from a distance.
- Do not feed birds.
- Avoid contact with any bird excrement.
- Remove your shoes before entering your home and clean them off if contamination is suspected.
Exposing the Big Game 