Wildlife Disease Expert Discusses Bird Flu Risks and Prevention
January 29, 2025
With the advent of cases of bird flu in southern New England, concerns are rising about the threat and impact of the fowl-borne illness. Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first detected in North America in late 2021, in Newfoundland, Canada, and then spread rapidly across the continent.
Johanna Harvey, a wildlife disease ecologist and assistant professor in the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Natural Resources Science, has been researching emergent diseases such as avian influenza and pathogens including avian malaria parasites and vampire flies.
The immunological and pathogenic response mechanisms of the current H5N1 circulating avian influenza aren’t understood for diverse wild bird and mammal species currently being impacted, she said. Her research seeks to provide answers and solutions to inform disease management and improve conservation and species management.
“I am motivated by my desire to understand the impacts of disease and pressures on wildlife caused by environmental change,” Harvey said.
She noted the term “highly pathogenic” refers to influenza viruses that have the potential to cause severe disease or result in death in chickens.
“What we are seeing now is likely an upswing as the individuals initially infected and surviving may have reduced antibodies and we have new cohorts, young generations of birds, not yet exposed or having antibodies,” she said. “We are seeing signs of increasing virus prevalence in the landscape.”
Those at higher risk to exposure include people who work with birds, poultry, and cows, according to Harvey. She noted those with prolonged exposure through occupational risk need to take extra precautions through the use of personal protective equipment.
She said this disease “really emphasizes why the public should not handle dead birds; they should be reported to your local wildlife agency for follow-up.”
Harvey noted the bird flu has the “potential” to lead to another pandemic.
“The virus requires additional adaptations to be transmissible by humans to humans,” she said. “As we see continued, increasing viral diversity, this provides more opportunity for this to happen. We need to address mitigation strategies to help lessen these opportunities.”
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