There has been a deadly bird flu detected in the United States and is spreading across the states.
The virus is being monitored by state and federal officials and has been stated to have infected and killed a variety of species of birds since February 2022. Officials have said that about 24 million both wild and domestic birds have been infected.
One of the newest species added to the list of birds that have been affected is the bald eagle. The USDA has reported that across 14 states there have been 36 cases of bald eagle deaths due to this strain of flu.
Most of the cases that have resulted in death have been on the east coast. Although signs have shown the strain is moving westward with other bird species being reported affected in Utah and Idaho.
Our country’s bird was removed from the endangered species list in 2007 after an incredible recovery in numbers, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bald Eagles are still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Zoos across the nation are also heightening measures to protect their bird species from contracting this virus. This virus is highly contagious from bird to bird through saliva, nasal secretions, and feces and there has yet to be a cure discovered to treat this.
So far there have been 0 cases reported that the 2022 bird flu strain has been found in humans.
