Hundreds of species infected with bird flu, not just chickens, cows, humans | Fact check
The claim: Bird flu only affects chickens, humans and cows
A Jan. 30 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) makes a series of claims about bird flu.
"Remember they are not killing the ducks, seagulls, eagles and quail," reads text in the post. "Strangely bird flu only affects chickens, cows and humans."
The post was shared more than 4,000 times in about two weeks.
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Our rating: False
Bird flu infects many species, including wild animals, according to the United Nations. Ducks, quail and at least one eagle have been euthanized due to the virus.
Bird flu affects many species, including wild animals
A global outbreak of H5 bird flu has infected millions of animals since 2020. The virus can infect chickens, cows and, more rarely, humans.
But, contrary to the claim in the post, it infects many other species as well. Infection has been confirmed in hundreds of species of birds and mammals, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.
Ducks and quail have also been euthanized after bird flu was detected among them, as has at least one eagle.
Fact check: No, bird flu infection not 'made up' for patient in Mexico
Other species infected include owls, storks, condors, penguins, seals, foxes, cats and dolphins, the U.N. reported.
Infected and potentially infected farm animals, including chickens, are often euthanized. U.S. farmers have also euthanized cows that failed to recover from the virus, according to Reuters.
Paste BN reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources
- Go Erie, Jan 16, As reports of dying snow geese increase, Pa. Game Commission 'depopulates' some birds
- ABC 7 Eye Witness News, Jan. 24, New York farm forced to kill entire flock of 100,000 ducks amid bird flu outbreak
- Japan Times, Jan. 20, More bird flu cases found in Japan; 1.44 million birds to be culled
- Boston 25 News, Feb. 12, Bald eagle spotted suffering from neurological deficits in Mass. town euthanized after bird flu test
- The New York Times, April 24, 2024, Bird Flu Is Infecting More Mammals. What Does That Mean for Us?
- Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, accessed Feb. 14, Animal Health
- Paste BN, Feb. 7, Bird flu has caused growing problems for the last year. Here's what we know so far.
- Paste BN, Feb. 13, A farm worker has contracted Ohio's first human case of bird flu: What to know
- BBC, Feb. 12, Avian flu spread sees 1.8 million farmed birds culled
- United Nations, Dec. 17, 2024, Avian flu reported in 108 countries across five continents, says UN health agency
- CBS, Jan. 13, U.S. egg industry sees record chicken deaths from bird flu outbreak
- World Organization for Animal Health, Dec. 6, High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Cattle
- Reuters, June 6, 2024, Exclusive: Cows infected with bird flu have died in five US states
- The Times of India, Feb. 1, Bird flu outbreak in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh
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