Health officials in Philadelphia announced Wednesday that a snow goose found ill in the city tested positive for bird flu, or avian influenza. The discovery comes as the United States faces a bird flu outbreak that has sickened more than 60 people nationwide.
The ill goose, located near the 1200 block of North 59th Street on January 11, tested positive for avian influenza A, specifically the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Ravel-Nelson reassured the public that the risk to the city remains low but emphasized the importance of vigilance.
“The threat to Philadelphia from H5N1 remains low, but we are issuing this alert out of an abundance of caution,” Dr. Ravel-Nelson said. She added that health officials continue to monitor the situation in Philadelphia and across the country.
The outbreak has affected wildlife and farms nationwide. Over 60 people have fallen ill from H5N1 in recent months, with one reported death. The illness has also impacted over 1,000 dairy herds and led to snow goose deaths in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and Delaware farms.
Residents and visitors are urged to avoid contact with wild birds and report any unusual behavior in wildlife to the city’s game commission.
In a move that raises eyebrows, the Biden administration has announced a $306 million investment aimed at bolstering bird flu monitoring and preparedness efforts across the United States. This initiative comes as the White House prepares to transition power to President-elect Donald Trump, leaving many conservatives questioning the timing and motives behind this sudden urgency.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first U.S. case of avian influenza A(H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, in November. The case involved a child from California who experienced mild symptoms and has since recovered following treatment with antiviral medication.
More recently, the CDC reported a severe case of H5N1 in a 65-year-old Louisiana man who had contact with sick backyard birds. The agency and so-called “experts” are now raising alarms about the virus’s alleged mutations and its supposed potential for human transmission, fueling concerns of overreach and panic-driven narratives.
