Over 700 Black Vultures at a Georgia Sanctuary Died Due to Bird Flu Outbreak

More than 700 black vultures in Georgia were killed because of a bird flu outbreak. The sanctuary called Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary, located in Locust Grove also houses more than 1,500 animals and announced on its website that it would be closed through September 3 after the birds tested positive.

The birds are now under quarantine, while the sanctuary is ordered to undergo a thorough disinfecting. The dead vultures were discovered on August 13, and tests showed that they had become the latest victim of the highly pathogenic avian virus of the H5N1 strain.

(Photo: Pixabay/16081684)
Over 700 Black Vultures at a Georgia Sanctuary Died Due to a Bird Flu Outbreak

Bird Flu Outbreak Kills Hundreds of Birds

This year, an outbreak of the avian virus has led to the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys and about 2,000 wild birds. The US Department of Agriculture said the wild birds include over 240 black vultures, almost 220 bald eagles, and some seals.

In the case of the bird flu outbreak in Noah's Ark, ABC News reported that initial tests indicate that the black vultures died of the H5N1 strain. State authorities were then notified of the unusual number of dead vultures found on August 13.

Noah's Ark animal care manager Allison Hedgecoth said state workers euthanized 20 to 30 other birds, including all their chickens, turkeys, and guinea hens. The sanctuary is home to 500 species of birds, such as ostrich, emu, one peacock, two sandhill, cranes, cockatoos, and a Eurasian eagle owl.

It is located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta and more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of the area where hundreds of birds in a mixed backyard died or were euthanized earlier this year because of a bird flu outbreak.

Due to the recent bird flu outbreak at the sanctuary, the Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources of Georgia has set up a six-mile (9.6-kilometer) perimeter around it to contain the spread of the avian virus. State senator Emanual Jones pointed out that the disease could quickly spread if not properly contained immediately, given that birds can fly.

Newsweek reported that Noah's Ark has also tripled their veterinary staff in the past six weeks to boost its animal care efforts. About 45 states have reported bird flu cases this year, with one human case. The virus typically spreads between birds, especially domesticated poultry.

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What is H5N1?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus is highly contagious and fatal among birds. Since 2003, cases of infected birds of the strain have resulted in high mortality in domestic poultry and wild birds in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

The H5N1 strain is known to infect domestic poultry mostly and has become endemic to certain countries worldwide. The United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization has considered six countries endemic for Asian H5N1 strain in poultry since 2011. These countries include Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

But in 2015, the strain was detected in a wild duck in the US. It is a "reassortant" virus with genes off HPAI H5N1 and the low pathogenic North American viruses. There are no humans yet infected with this type, but experts said that it is possible this virus could infect people and cause serious diseases.