Avian influenza (or bird flu) has been detected in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is raising awareness for people to take steps now to protect our birds.
Please don’t touch or move sick or dead birds. If you spot three or more dead or sick wild birds in one location, report it immediately to MPI on 0800 80 99 66. Check out the guide on Bird Flu and protecting your birds.
What is Avian botulism?
Avian botulism is a disease that causes paralysis in birds and often kills them. The disease is caused by Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that's around in the environment all year round. When low water levels, low oxygen levels in ponds and waterways, poor water quality/pollution and warm temperatures combine, the bacteria can quickly reach toxic levels.
Birds contract avian botulism when they eat maggots that have fed on the bacteria. Freshwater fish and eels can also be poisoned when the bacteria reach toxic levels.
A severe outbreak of avian botulism can kill hundreds of birds, eels and fish. The outbreak usually declines once cooler weather and rainfall arrives.
How it spreads
Avian botulism is spread through maggots which contain the pathogen. Birds don’t spread the disease to one another while they are alive, but if they die with the infection, other birds can contract botulism through maggots from the dead birds. Waterfowl are particularly susceptible, because the bacteria is often found around ponds and waterways. This is often where an outbreak begins.
Risks
There seems to be a low risk to human health from avian botulism, but it can make dogs and cats, as well as other domestic pets, very sick.
Don't:
- let your pets eat dead fish, eels or birds
- handle dead fish or waterfowl with bare hands – always wear gloves
- harvest or eat birds, eels or fish from areas where botulism is present.
What we’re doing to stay safe
With highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 having been detected in New Zealand, all sick or dead birds must be suspected of having the disease.
Now that bird flu has been detected the potential threat to council workers dealing with sick and dead birds is different. We will not routinely recover these birds from waterways as has been done previously, instead these instances will be referred to MPI.
When there's an outbreak, we work to manage it by:
- Installing signs in specific areas, informing about what is happening and what you can do.
- Sharing information with other agencies, including Greater Wellington Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Ministry for Primary Industries.
- Continuing to work alongside the community to improve the habitat of specific areas for our wildlife, by planting, trapping and other restoration techniques.
What you can do to stay safe
- Avoid feeding ducks – it’s better to allow them to forage naturally.
- Don't feed them bread – when it rots in the ponds it promotes the growth of botulism bacteria.
- Pick up your pet’s waste and dispose of it properly
Botulism outbreaks still occur – but treat every sick or dead bird as if it could have avian influenza. Keep yourself, your whanau and your pets safe, and do not handle sick or dead birds.