Champaign, IL – Local and state health officials are urging residents to take precautions when handling or encountering dead birds as H5N1 avian influenza continues to affect wildlife and livestock across Illinois.
According to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), the public should avoid direct contact with dead or sick birds. While the overall health risk to people remains low, officials stress that caution is necessary to reduce potential exposure to the virus.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released detailed guidelines for safe bird disposal. For groups of fewer than five birds, residents should use waterproof gloves, double-bag the carcasses, and place them in a secure trash can. If five or more dead birds are found, residents are advised to report the incident to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for further guidance.
Recommended safety equipment includes disposable gloves, plastic bags, safety goggles, and an N95 mask, particularly if birds are in wet or splashing environments. After disposal, residents should wash their hands thoroughly, disinfect shoes, and launder clothing in hot water.
Pets should also be kept away from dead or sick birds, as H5N1 has been detected in cats and other mammals on affected farms. Feeding pets raw food diets, including unpasteurized milk from infected cows, may also increase the risk of transmission.
Officials ask residents who develop flu-like symptoms within 10 days of handling dead birds to contact CUPHD at 217-352-7961 for evaluation.
For more information on safe disposal and pet precautions, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s avian influenza resource page.
