The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has urged poultry and bird owners to remain vigilant following the detection of avian influenza in a wastewater sample on O‘ahu. The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is investigating the source, but there are currently no reports of avian influenza cases in humans or animals in Hawaiʻi. The risk to residents remains low.
Since 2015, HDOA’s Animal Disease Control Branch, alongside two branches of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Geological Survey, has been conducting routine surveillance for avian influenza along the Pacific flyway, which includes Hawai‘i.
HDOA enforces strict bird import laws requiring permits, inspections, health certificates, identification requirements, and sometimes isolation periods before birds can be imported into Hawai‘i. Due to outbreaks on the mainland, HDOA has restricted bird imports from affected areas and requires pre-entry testing for avian influenza. Additionally, an embargo is in place against importing birds through mail.
Residents are advised not to touch sick or dead birds without proper protective equipment and to report any such findings. Poultry and bird owners who observe high mortality rates should contact their veterinarians or HDOA’s Division of Animal Industry at 808-483-7102 or 808-837-8092 after business hours.
Further information on increasing biosecurity for flocks can be found at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/ldc/adconcerns/aiinfo/biosec/
For more resources on avian influenza:
- HDOA: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/ldc/avian-influenza-information/
- DOH: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/avian-influenza/
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/index.html
- USDA: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza
Media inquiries can be directed to Janelle Saneishi at [email protected] or by phone at 808-973-9560.