WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – The recent discovery of several dead ducks at a park in Winter Springs has triggered more reports to Florida wildlife officials, according to the city.
City staff reportedly found the ducks at Torcaso Park on the week of Jan. 26, according to a news release.
After reporting the dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Seminole County Animal Services, the city said it learned the ducks were positive for avian flu, the release states. Staff were said to have then worked under FWC and county guidance to prepare for the disposal of the birds and to sanitize affected areas.
The state has recommended allowing the avian flu to “run its course, as some birds may build immunity,” and estimates the infection will dissipate in a month’s time, according to the release.
“We have been advised that while the risk of bird flu transmission to humans remains low, health officials recommend taking simple precautions to help prevent potential exposure,” the release states. “These include avoiding direct contact with sick or deceased birds, not handling wildlife without proper protection, keeping pets away from affected areas, and practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing.”
The new report arrived a matter of hours behind FWC’s confirmation to News 6 that it was investigating the reported deaths of 101 vultures at Blue Spring State Park in Volusia County. In Orlando, avian flu has been linked to the recent deaths of wild birds at Lake Eola and Lake Davis.