OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Eleven people are being monitored after being exposed to bird flu at an animal exhibit farm in a Waterford Township park.
Bird flu, also known as Type A H5N1 influenza, is widespread in wild birds and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. There have been several human cases but the CDC said the current risk to public health is low.
The Oakland County Health Division said that 11 people are being monitored for 10 days, starting on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. They came into contact with animals that have bird flu at the farm at Hess-Hathaway Park in Waterford Township.
“The risk of contracting bird flu is very low for the general public, but it’s important to be aware of the disease in the community,” said Oakland County Director of Health and Human Services Leigh-Anne Stafford. “Protect yourself and prevent bird flu by avoiding direct contact with sick or dead birds and wash your hands thoroughly if you come into contact with them.”
As of Jan. 10, 2025, there has been one human death in the U.S. caused by bird flu. The patient, a person in Louisiana, had been in contact with dead birds in backyard flocks, according to the CDC.
“While tragic, a death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death. As of January 6, 2025, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022,” the CDC said in a media release.
An adult in Missouri with bird flu was hospitalized, but it was for reasons beyond just the bird flu infection. Last month, Canadian officials reported that a teen was hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu.
Health officials say bird flu is still mainly an animal health issue, and the risk to the general public remains low. There’s been no documented spread of the virus from person to person.
---> Michigan Department of Agriculture confirms case of bird flu in Oakland County
Bird flu in dairy cattle
Bird flu was confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March and has been spreading.
According to the CDC, high levels of virus have been found in the milk of infected cows.
Around 20% of samples of pasteurized milk sold in stores were found to contain viral remnants of the virus. Government scientists report that pasteurization, or heat treatment, kills the bird flu virus in milk.
Testing milk for bird flu at Michigan dairy farms
The USDA has directed a nationwide, mandated test of milk from dairy farms.
The testing involves sampling milk from farm-level bunk tanks or milk silos at dairy processing plants, or a combination of the two. MDARD mailed dairy producers on Nov. 25, 2024, to let them know about the testing requirements.
The USDA is working to implement testing in all 50 states. Michigan, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, California, Colorado, and Oregon, were part of a first grouping of states to begin testing.
How to protect domestic birds
The Michigan DNR has offered the following steps to protect the health of birds you care for:
- Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing them indoors or ensuring their outdoor area is fully enclosed.
- Wash your hands before and after handling birds as well as when moving between different coops.
- Disinfect boots and other gear when moving between coops
- Do not share equipment or other supplies between coops or other farms.
- Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses. If it cannot be disinfected, discard it.
- Use well or municipal water as drinking water for birds.
- Keep poultry feed secure to ensure there is no contact between the feed/feed ingredients and wild birds or rodents.
Domestic bird owners and caretakers should keep an eye out for sudden deaths in the flock, a drop in egg production, a significant decrease in water consumption, diarrhea, sneezing/coughing, or an increase in sick birds.
If you suspect birds you care for have avian influenza, you should contact MDARD immediately at 800-292-3939 (daytime) or 517-373-0440 (after-hours).
Anyone who notices unusual or unexplained deaths among wild birds can report cases to the Michigan Department of Resources online using the Eyes in the Field app or by calling the DNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory at 517-336-5030.