On May 18, 2022, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that several Canada goose goslings collected from Alton Baker Park in Eugene have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and a larger outbreak is suspected as more sick and dead waterfowl have been observed at the park. A red-tailed hawk from Eugene and an osprey collected from Dorena Reservoir (east of Cottage Grove) May 10 have also tested positive.

These cases mark the first known detections of the new avian flu strain in wild birds in Oregon. Earlier this month, the first Oregon case in a backyard poultry flock was confirmed in Linn County and one additional case has been confirmed in Lane County.

The risk of HPAI to human health is low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The only known human case involving infection and illness was someone involved in the culling of presumptively infected poultry at a commercial farm in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

With any detections, it is more important than ever to avoid close contact with waterfowl (ducks and geese) during the spring and summer. This includes feeding waterfowl which congregates susceptible birds and enables the disease to spread between birds more easily.

Avian influenza is a disease of birds caused by a bird-specific influenza Type A virus. This virus has been documented in more than 100 different species of wild birds worldwide. The first 2021/22 detection of Eurasian strain (EA) highly pathogenic avian influenza, specifically referred to as H5N1, in North America occurred in December 2021 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It was believed to have entered North America in an infected wild seabird or migrating waterfowl.