The virus is often spread to domestic poultry by infected wild birds.
Security footage captured the moment a flock of yellow-headed blackbirds crashes into the ground on a street in Mexico’s Chihuahua state early on Feb. 7, 2022. Credit: Alejandra Herlinda Iglesias Gonzalez via Storyful
Rhode Island’s House of Representatives passed a bill this week to allow the state to set up a quarantine area to prevent the movement of domestic animals or products when there is a suspected case of a contagious animal disease, such as bird flu. State environmental officials requested the change to help them respond to the current outbreak of avian influenza. They said that while this strain does not affect humans, it is lethal to birds and can wipe out an entire flock.
At Pumpkin Wall Farm, five turkeys suddenly died this week. Owner Brendena Fleming said wild ducks carrying the disease landed in their pond and infected the flock. She said she contacted the state veterinarian, who determined they had avian flu.