How concerned should hunters of turkeys, ducks, quail, and other birds be about highly pathogenic H5N1?
At this time, Missouri hunters should not be overly concerned about H5N1, but should take normal precautions when handling game and should stay informed about the issue. The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the risk to humans from highly pathogenic H5N1 is low. The strain of highly pathogenic H5N1 virus found in Asia and Europe has not been found in the United States. There have been no human cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza in the United States. Question: What precautions should hunters take when handling game? Answer: Hunters should take routine, common sense precautions when handling game. Precautions recommended by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center include: • Do not handle or eat birds that are obviously sick or birds found dead. Contact an MDC employee or federal natural resource agency if you find sick or dead birds. • Thoroughly washing hands with soap and water (or with a
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