Brown Bear Cub in Alaska tests positive for Avian Influenza

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, has been detected in a brown bear cub on Kodiak Island, Alaska. That is the primary time HPAI has ever been detected in a brown bear.

A deer hunter on Kodiak discovered the useless bear, a cub of the yr, on Nov. 26. Understanding the Alaska Division of Fish and Recreation (ADF&G) is conducting wildlife well being surveillance, he collected the carcass and offered it to Nate Svoboda, the state Space Wildlife Biologist for Kodiak Island.

Svoboda notified ADF&G wildlife veterinarian Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen. Beckmen investigated an identical case in October when the general public reported a sick, stumbling black bear cub in Glacier Bay Nationwide Park. That bear additionally examined optimistic for HPAI.

“We respect that the general public and this hunter reported these animals,” Beckmen stated. “We’re depending on assist like this to grasp the prevalence of wildlife illnesses. Well timed reporting and footage actually assist.”
An animal that’s sick or freshly useless with no apparent accidents or a transparent reason behind dying must be reported to Fish and Recreation. “Get the precise location, take footage, and tell us so we will choose it up,” Beckmen stated. “If you happen to choose it up and switch it in, don’t deal with it with naked arms – put on gloves or use a plastic bag.”

Svoboda famous that there have been no apparent wounds or clear indicators indicating the reason for dying, and that the cub seemed emaciated. “That’s unusual for this time of yr when bears must be close to their most weight previous to denning,” Svoboda stated.

He shipped the carcass to Anchorage for necropsy and additional examination. Dr. Kathy Burek-Huntington with Alaska Veterinary Pathology Companies performed a radical examination and located indications of an infection within the mind, lungs and liver. She despatched samples to varied laboratories to display screen for pathogens together with avian influenza. When the screening checks on nasal and rectal swabs, lung, and mind detected avian influenza, all samples had been forwarded to the Nationwide Veterinary Companies Laboratory in Iowa for affirmation and pressure typing; NVSL decided it was Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza and the pressure was the identical H5N1 the black bear cub had.

Microscopic examination of the tissues discovered that the bear died as a result of viral an infection inflicting irritation and swelling within the mind, a meningoencephalitis, once more the identical because the black bear cub.

The cubs had been more than likely uncovered and contaminated whereas scavenging birds that died of the an infection. “Whereas mammals are at a decrease danger of an infection than poultry, scavenging an contaminated hen offers a chance to inhale a heavy dose of the virus whereas tearing into the tissues,” Beckmen stated. “The cub was emaciated and that, along with being a really younger animal, would make it extra inclined to succumbing to an an infection. Fortuitously, the virus isn’t transferred from bear-to-bear.”

The Facilities for Illness Management says this pressure is low danger to individuals and isn’t a food-borne pathogen. Nevertheless, correct hygiene is at all times suggested when butchering wild animals for consumption. Put on gloves, wash arms and utensils with cleaning soap and water and disinfect surfaces. Prepare dinner meat to an inner temperature of 145⁰F levels and poultry to 165⁰F to keep away from danger of infections.

Beckmen and State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Gerlach have additionally detected this virus in two different wild mammals throughout this outbreak, pink foxes in Unalaska and in Unalakleet. All through the summer time and fall HPAI was detected in eagles, ravens, shorebirds, waterfowl, and home poultry. An infection can happen when wild birds are drawn to locations the place home birds are fed.

Home poultry is the principle concern in Alaska and throughout the nation. Greater than 53 million home poultry in 47 states have been affected by this outbreak and new detections are being discovered each week.
Dr. Gerlach stated his workplace in Anchorage is responding to an elevated variety of sick and useless birds in home poultry. It’s obvious that the virus is constant to flow into and impression the well being of resident wild birds in Alaska even after migratory waterfowl have left the state. Chilly and freezing climate situations can protect the virus for lengthy durations of time.

This implies there can even be a continued risk to home hen populations (poultry and pet birds) and homeowners must evaluation and replace their biosecurity measures. Don’t feed poultry outdoors the place it is going to appeal to wild birds, and canopy out of doors pens. Fowl and poultry homeowners ought to wash their arms and clear their boots previous to coming into or dealing with their birds or different farms or pens the place poultry exist.

Sick or useless wildlife will be reported to the closest ADF&G workplace or on-line. Morbidity or mortality of home poultry will be reported to the Workplace of the State Veterinarian (907) 375-8215.