Guam has now also banned the importation of poultry into Hawaii due to recent reports of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, now being detected in Hawaii.

The Guam Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division is also asking island residents to report any unusual mortality in poultry or wild bird populations.

“A single dead bird is not cause for concern, but multiple birds – five or more birds at a time – should be reported to Animal Health at (671) 300-7966 or by email to Territorial Veterinarian Dr. Mariana Turner at mariana.turner @doag.guam.gov,” the local agency said.

Guam Agriculture announced Monday the expansion of its poultry ban to include all imports of live poultry and hatching eggs from Hawaii, effective immediately.

“This ban applies only to live poultry and hatching eggs, as poultry products such as meat and eggs intended for consumption pose no threat. The USDA has reiterated that proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs at an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit kills bacteria and viruses,” the Guam Department of Agriculture said.

On November 15, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture announced the first detection of HPAI in a flock of mixed-species backyard poultry.

This is the first confirmed detection of HPAI in Hawaii, and the virus strain detected matches the strain that has affected poultry and dairy cattle in the continental United States.

Prevention is key

Guam Agriculture, in a statement, said it has maintained constant consultations with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding potential impacts on Guam if HPAI reaches the island.

All agree that prevention is the only appropriate course of action for Guam, as widespread island-wide infection and poultry deaths are guaranteed, the local agricultural agency said.

Since January 2022, USDA APHIS has been responding to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Historically, avian flu outbreaks last a few months and naturally subside as migratory birds, which are natural reservoirs of the virus, complete their migration.

In an unprecedented series of events, the epidemic persisted for several years, decimating poultry populations across the American continent.

Even more alarming, this strain of avian flu virus was able to cause prolonged infection in U.S. dairy cattle, the first such event globally.

Although avian influenza is considered a zoonotic disease capable of infecting humans, the CDC has stated that current detections of HPAI do not present an immediate concern to the human health of the general public.

Additional information on biosecurity for non-commercial backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.