The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) in coordination with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, and Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health have confirmed an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in multiple flocks of geese in the Reno/Sparks region.
NDOW says the public can help by identifying infecting geese and notifying the proper officials.
Symptoms in birds include:
- Sneezing, coughing, eye & nasal discharge, swelling or fluid accumulating
- around one or both eyes.
- Abnormal position of head or neck, poor balance and coordination, and/or
- circling.
- A buildup of fluid in the bird’s legs and patchy redness of the skin.
- Diarrhea and green discoloration of the feces.
- Weakness, lethargy, depression.
- Sudden death.
If you encounter a dead goose:
Notify the landowner responsible. For geese found on City or County Parks. please contact them for removal. City of Reno Parks can be reached at (775) 334-2270; Washoe County Parks phone is (775) 828-6612.
- Dispose waterfowl on your own property by double bagging it and placing it in municipal waste. Be sure to wear gloves, an N95 mask, and eye protection.
- If you encounter a dead goose and have poultry, please change your clothes and shoes afterwards.
If you encounter a sick goose:
- Leave the goose alone and contact NDOW at (775) 688-1500 to report the location of the goose. If this is on your property, someone will contact you as soon as possible.
- Keep pets and children away.
If you have domestic birds, especially backyard poultry:
- Keep poultry in secure enclosures away from wild birds and waterfowl.
- Wear dedicated clothing and footwear when caring for poultry.
- Clean and disinfect tools and equipment after use.
- Store poultry feed securely and avoid placing wild bird feeders near poultry areas.
- Watch for unusual behavior, signs of illness or unexpected deaths in your flock.
- Avoid touching or handling sick or dead wild birds. Use gloves and protective gear when necessary.
- Contact a veterinarian if birds appear sick and report high mortality rates among domestic poultry to the NDA at diseasereporting@agri.nv.gov.
According to NDOW, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza rarely spreads to humans or livestock.
When HPAI does spread to humans, symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, eye tearing/irritation/redness, headaches, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, and/or diarrhea/vomiting. Transmission to
humans may occur from contact with infected or potentially infected animals, animal carcasses, or surfaces contaminated with animal excretions without using proper protective clothing/equipment.
(Nevada Department of Wildlife contributed to this report.)
