MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has identified the bird flu in a wild duck sample collected from Milwaukee County last week. 

What You Need To Know

  • The H5 HPAI virus, or bird flu, has been found in six counties across the state

  • To stay safe from the H5 HPAI virus, avoid handling sick or dead wildlife. The same goes for pets

  • If you must touch a sick or dead bird, the DNR provides guidance on its DNR Avian Influenza webpage

  • If you come into contact with sick or dead birds, you can report it to the DNR; the organization is looking for groups of at least five or more

This isn’t the first incidence in Wisconsin. The H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) has been found in six counties across the state since mid-December. These counties include Dane, St. Croix, Wood, Brown, Racine and Milwaukee.

The DNR has also received more reports of sick or dead waterfowl along Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, though it involves less than 50 birds.

To stay safe from the bird flu, the DNR said to avoid handling sick or dead wildlife. The same goes for pets. If possible, avoid letting your pets interact with unhealthy or deceased wildlife.

If you must touch a sick or dead bird, the DNR has guidance on its DNR Avian Influenza webpage. But public health officials ensure the risk to the general public from avian influenza remains low. Wisconsin has had one confirmed positive human case of bird flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you come into contact with sick or dead birds, you can report them to the DNR; the organization is looking for groups of at least five or more dead birds. From there, DNR will decide whether they’ll collect a sample. You can make a report, here or contact the Wildlife Switchboard at DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-0866. 

More information on avian influenza viruses and the ongoing response to this HPAI strain is available on the DNR’s Avian Influenza webpage. 

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