ORLANDO, Fla. – Avian flu was reportedly present in a wild bird found dead at Lake Davis Park in Orlando, prompting a new warning from the city.
Residents recently notified the city of the deaths of several wild birds at the park, as well as how one of the birds had tested positive for avian influenza during a necropsy, according to a news release.
The city added that it had not independently confirmed the information and was acting out of an abundance of caution.
“A top priority of the city is the safety and well-being of our residents, staff and the preservation of local wildlife,” the release states. “(...) There are a number of reported cases of Avian Influenza throughout the state. Out of an abundance of caution, residents are urged not to touch or handle any birds that appear unwell or are deceased.”
[VIDEO BELOW: 30% of Lake Eola swans dead from bird flu]
Nearby, on the other side of State Road 408, at least 32 bird deaths at Lake Eola Park have recently been linked to avian flu.
Andrew Marshall, a volunteer caretaker for Lake Eola’s swans, told News 6 about a petition he started to urge more city investment into keeping the birds’ habitat a clean one.
[WATCH: Avian flu confirmed in Lake Eola swan deaths]
“They rely on human care and human intervention to help give them the quality of life they deserve,” he said. “(...) If you’ve been down to the park, you’ve seen some of the trash that is constantly in the lake. It’s mucky. It’s disgusting.”
The city is sharing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that states while avian influenza can be transmitted to humans, it’s extremely rare, with only one case reported in the U.S. since 2022.
It is recommended the community take the following measures to protect themselves:
-Avoid direct contact with birds and only observe them from a distance. This goes for both people and pets.
-Additionally, avoid contact with any excrement from birds.
-It’s recommended that people remove their shoes when entering one’s home and cleaning them off if contamination is suspected.
City of Orlando
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s website states it’s currently monitoring for avian influenza in birds found sick or dead of unknown causes and needs to know about such animals in order to investigate and test die-offs.
Report deceased birds to the FWC by clicking here.