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Town public health: avian influenza remains low human risk; three Nantucket birds presumptively positive
Summary
The town health director said avian influenza remains primarily an animal disease, advised precautions around wild birds and reported that of about 76 samples tested from recent local collections three were presumptively positive for H5N1; confirmatory testing is pending with federal partners.
Roky Maramantes, the town’s director of public health, told the Select Board that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) remains primarily an animal virus and the current risk to public health is low. He said the highest risk is to birds — particularly wild waterfowl and scavengers — and to domestic poultry.
Maramantes advised residents to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and to keep dogs leashed and cats indoors to reduce exposure risks. He said state agencies including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and MassWildlife are coordinating monitoring and public guidance.
The town’s health department posted state-recommended guidance on the town website and has been participating in regional surveillance. Maramantes reported that researchers from Tufts University and local partners collected about 100 dead birds from sites including the Kottu/Kostya Wildlife Refuge, Warren’s Landing and Cathcart Beach. Of the first 76 samples processed on-site, three — a great black-backed gull, a herring gull and a common eider — tested presumptively positive for H5N1; confirmatory testing is pending with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He said approximately 20 additional specimens remain to be tested.
Maramantes cautioned that large bird die-offs on Cape Cod have been considered suspect for HPAI, but that finding dead wild birds on Nantucket, particularly in winter, is not unusual. He said preliminary results make it “seem unlikely that HPAI is the main driver” of current seabird mortality on Nantucket, but the town will continue testing and coordination with state and federal partners and provide updates as confirmations are received.
A Select Board member asked where to report dead birds; Maramantes said the town’s reporting link and guidance are posted on the town’s main website under announcements.
