Utah wildlife officials have reported the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in birds and other wildlife across ten counties, including three previously unaffected areas. The outbreak has resulted in the death of thousands of eared grebes in the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.
Utah wildlife officials say highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in birds and other wildlife across 10 counties since November, including three counties that had never had positive cases from other waves before late last year.
The virus has been confirmed in over 100 wild birds, as well as three red foxes, one mountain lion and multiple skunks across Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Emery, Millard, Salt Lake, San Juan, Tooele and Weber counties, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officials said in an update on Wednesday. Box Elder, Emery and San Juan counties had previously not had any cases since the national outbreak began in early 2022. We saw a lull in new avian flu cases in wild birds from January 2024 to November 2024, but since last fall, we have seen another uptick in new cases across Utah, said Ginger Stout, the division's veterinarian, in a statement. The update comes after division officials told KSL on Friday that over 15,000 eared grebes are believed to have died within the Great Salt Lake ecosystem because of the virus over the past few months. A few grebes account for the 122 confirmed cases in the state since the start of the outbreak. Officials warn that avian influenza poses a serious threat to both wild and domestic birds, and urge the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds. They also recommend taking steps to protect poultry flocks, such as keeping them separate from wild birds and ensuring that they have access to clean water and feed.
Avian Influenza Wildlife Utah Bird Flu Eared Grebes Great Salt Lake
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