Health Officials Confirm Avian Flu in Boston Parks Birds

Boston public health officials have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in birds within the Emerald Necklace park system. The Emerald Necklace spans more than seven miles of parks in Boston and Brookline and covers 1,100 acres, according to a Boston 25 News report.

“Risk of human infection is currently low,” Boston Public Health Commission officials said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Despite the low infection risk, health officials are advising the public to avoid feeding, touching, or removing sick, injured, or dead birds in parks. Officials urge residents to report diseased or dead birds by calling 311 or using the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife reporting form.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avian flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide. It is “causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with sporadic human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.”  

The CDC notes that recent avian influenza A(H5) cases in the United States commonly present with eye redness, along with fever and respiratory symptoms. “The severity of illness associated with bird flu has ranged from mild to severe, including death,” the CDC stated. Still, most cases “have been mild, so far, and most were in people who had known exposure to sick or infected animals.”