The February 19th issue of Brookline News includes a timely update on the outbreak of bird flu nationally and close to home. Writer/photographer Ashley D’Souza reports:
“Bird flu isn’t new to Massachusetts and was first detected in the state in 2022. However, Brookline first began reporting cases this January. Within Brookline, cases have occurred mostly along the Muddy River in the Emerald Necklace, with over 140 wild waterfowl suspected to be killed by the flu so far, according to Brookline’s Department of Public Works (DPW). In a recent three-week period, DPW reported 35 dead birds.”
Practicing “situational awareness,” the Brookline DPW “receives regular updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which in turn coordinates with other public health departments on a national level, according to Sigalle Reiss, Brookline’s Director of Public Health and Human Services…
While the current infection risk to humans is low, the more people that interact with dead and sick birds, the higher the risk of spreading the virus to pets and to new environments. Therefore, it’s crucial that people report observations of bird flu to the DPW instead of trying to handle sick or dead birds themselves…
When it comes to protecting yourself from bird flu and minimizing the virus’s spread, it is crucial to avoid feeding and interacting directly with wildlife.”
Read the full article for information on the human risks from bird flu and “best practices” in keeping our communities safe.
Photos: Ashley D’Souza, Brookline News
