YuLin Zhen, Photography Editor

Cases of avian influenza, or bird flu, have been popping up in backyards, supermarkets and zoos around the state, mirroring a nationwide uptick in cases. 

H5 Bird Flu, a strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, has become widespread in wild birds worldwide and has caused sporadic outbreaks in U.S. poultry flocks and dairy cattle. It is transmitted through contact with infected birds or their droppings.

According to the experts interviewed by the News, bird flu does not pose a major risk to humans, but recent health communications freezes have hampered the ability to combat it.

“Right now for humans, bird flu is not a huge risk unless you work in an occupational hazard area,” said Stephanie Perniciaro, a research scientist in epidemiology at the School of Public Health. “But it’s something that we definitely need to keep a close eye on.”

In the U.S., there have been 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu since 2024, with one associated death. There have been no reports of person-to-person spread. Human infections with avian influenza viruses most often occur after lengthy unprotected contact with infected birds or surfaces that sick birds or their saliva, mucus or feces have touched.

In Connecticut, outbreaks have been reported in commercial and backyard chicken flocks. Several human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers have also been reported.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport reported a case of bird flu following testing of a deceased goose found on its grounds. 

In accordance with federal and state guidelines, the zoo restricted public access to birds, enhanced safety measures for staff and euthanized the remaining birds in the pond community that may have been exposed to the virus. Birds in nearby exhibits without direct contact with the affected flock were quarantined and tested.​

“Preliminary results received last week were negative for HPAI,” Rowena White, a representative of Beardsley Zoo, wrote to the News. “To be clear and reiterate, these birds are currently remaining in a separate safe space while being monitored for their protection.”

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture also confirmed an outbreak within a backyard flock in New Haven County on Jan. 24.

Backyard flock owners are recommended to take extra security measures to ensure the safety of themselves and their poultry by minimizing contact with wild birds and rodents and increasing hygiene and disinfection.

“In the past, we would have let them out to be around the yard when we were out working in the yard,” Steve Machesney, a New Haven local who keeps a backyard coop of six chickens, said. “We’re not doing that anymore, so they don’t have the opportunity to interact with wild birds or with wild bird excrement.”

Disruptions to health communication have impacted the nation’s response to bird flu since President Donald Trump took office.

According to Perniciaro, the Centers for Disease Control had some of their data sets taken down and have been prohibited from making external communication.

“Having no signal means that we have no real way to gauge our risks of exposure and thus no real idea how much of a response to deploy,” Perniciaro said.

The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the agency’s primary vehicle for distributing public health information and recommendations, took an unprecedented three-week pause after the Trump administration halted all external communications for federal health agencies.

The report resumed on Feb. 6.

“Not having public data availability isn’t just a population-level health problem. It’s also preventing doctors from being able to treat their patients most effectively,” Perniciaro said. “This affects lives, this affects dollars, and we should care.”

As of Feb. 6, bird flu has been detected in over 150 million poultry.