Dozens of dead Massachusetts geese found, suspected of avian influenza

Plymouth – Plymouth's Billington Sea is a large reservoir well known for its waterfowl. Just this past weekend, a body of water was surrounded by dozens of dead birds, apparently infected with the bird flu that is sweeping the United States.

“We saw carcasses of Canada geese, ducks and several other species,” said Zach Mertz, CEO of the New England Wildlife Center. “This fatal incident is strongly suspected to be related to avian influenza H5N1.”

A total of 60 birds died and another 10 to 15 became ill on the water. Many of the sick birds had to be euthanized. The epidemic has devastated bird populations across the country, sometimes contributing to soaring egg prices.

“Bird migration tends to spike around this time in January,” Merz said. “It can be transmitted to wild birds, poultry, and waterfowl. It is usually spread through respiratory secretions and droplets that travel from bird to bird. It can also be spread through feces.”

Merz's team worked with multiple agencies in Plymouth to treat the bird.

“Our main objective was to take samples of these birds, do some tests, and remove the dead birds from the environment to stop the spread of infection,” Merz said. Ta. “We are grateful that the risk to humans and pets is now very low, but low risk does not mean no risk.”

The biggest challenge in controlling the spread of infection is that some birds show no symptoms, while others do.

“They can collapse or barrel from lethargy, nervous system, and ataxia. Many waterfowl can have this disease and not appear sick at all,” explains Merz. .

That's why no one should handle dead birds, and pet owners are encouraged to keep their animals on a leash if birds are gathered together.

Precautions against bird flu

Plymouth Health and Human Services has issued a warning to local residents following the outbreak.

According to the warning, if you encounter a bird or animal on the ice, do not attempt to rescue it.

All backyard poultry must be kept in pens for the time being. Health officials said the birds cannot be allowed to roam free-range. Other pets, such as dogs, should be leashed outdoors if there are birds nearby.

Additionally, poultry owners should wear protective equipment when handling, feeding, and cleaning up the birds. You should also wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling the bird.

Plymouth Public Health Director Karen Keene said: “Poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild waterfowl, limit the number of people who have access to flocks, and if sharing equipment with other bird owners, keep them between locations. They should be cleaned and disinfected.”

mike sullivan

Mike Sullivan is a multimedia journalist at WBZ-TV.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos