SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO — News that a highly contagious bird flu has reached Southern California prompted SeaWorld San Diego to halt its bird rescue work and has San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife implementing extra precautions as they treat sick or injured birds.
The virus, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, affects the respiratory and neurological systems of birds that are sickened. It was first detected in wild birds in the U.S. in late December and early January in North Carolina and South Carolina, and has since spread across the country.
Last week, the California Department of Food and Agriculture reported cases in wild birds in Los Angeles and Orange counties. As of this week, more than 47 million birds in commercial flocks in 42 states have been affected, according to federal regulators.
For months, wildlife, agriculture and zoo officials have been closely tracking reported cases as the virus continued its march from state to state. Some had hoped the virus might not make it west of the Rocky Mountains — but it did.
After hearing of a case of possible bird flu reported within 200 miles of San Diego, SeaWorld San Diego halted its bird rescue program on Oct. 7. The park rescues and treats hundreds of sea birds and shore birds each year. So far this year, it had rescued 560 birds.
Its rescue work with marine mammals and sea turtles will continue.
Ten rescued birds being treated at SeaWorld will remain in the facility as they recuperate, said Kim Peterson, head of SeaWorld San Diego’s rescue team.
She had hoped the virus would not reach Southern California.
“My fingers and toes were all crossed,” she said. “I really hoped it was going to move north and just by us completely.”
Officials with Project Wildlife said they will continue to treat injured and sick birds, but will be looking closely at bird symptoms. Birds brought in will go to a specific room and treated by staff who are wearing protective gear.
If birds considered susceptible to the virus show neurological or respiratory symptoms, they likely will be euthanized, said Jon Enyart, senior director of Project Wildlife.
Enyart said his organization is trying to protect the birds being cared for at wildlife centers it operates in San Diego and Ramona. As of Monday, there were 58 birds being treated at the facilities.
The bodies of four birds brought to Project Wildlife will be submitted this week to a UC Davis lab for testing to see if they are positive for the virus. The birds — three greater white-fronted geese and a white pelican — were found in Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Point Loma and Lake San Marcos in recent days, he said.
Enyart said anyone who finds sick or dying birds is asked to report them to a state avian health hotline at (866) 922-BIRD (2473). People should wash their hands and change their clothes after touching sick or injured birds, and try to keep their own birds away from wild birds, he said.
Health officials say there have been rare cases of humans being infected by bird flu and say the risk to the general public’s health is thought to be low.
Enyart said it doesn’t appear that sparrows, finches and orioles are susceptible to the virus. However, it can be transmitted by water fowl such as ducks, geese and swans, some of which may be asymptomatic, and spreads quickly through poultry flocks.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and SeaWorld San Diego officials began taking steps to protect bird collections months ago, placing netting over outdoor enclosures and moving some birds indoors. Last Friday, the San Diego Zoo moved its penguins into a netted habitat — the last of the 900 birds at the zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park to be placed into protected areas.
“Now that HPAI is in a neighboring county, we are ending tours that go into bird areas and the hospitals at the Zoo and the Safari Park because those are now considered bird care areas,” spokesperson Jenny Mehow said in an email.
Vehicles that enter the zoo grounds also will be checked. If they have been to poultry farms, ranches or other wildlife facilities, the drivers will need to have their shoes disinfected and the tires and wheel wells will be disinfected, she said.
