REPORTINGWaterfowl and Game Birds
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Influenza
and
Bacteria |
Waterfowl and game birds can potentially be infected with certain influenza viruses that they can transmit to people. There have been no cases of highly disease-causing H5N1 bird flu in North America. There have been cases of other types of influenza viruses in birds in North America. These viruses tend to cause little disease and only minor illnesses in people.
When handling waterfowl and game birds, people should wear gloves. Meat to eat from wild waterfowl and game birds should be cooked thoroughly to 165 degrees F. People should avoid contact with blood or body fluids from wild birds.
Waterfowl and game birds can also carry Salmonellaand Campylobacter bacteria. Both types of bacteria can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever and more in people. Birds might not appear ill when they are infected with these bacteria. People should thoroughly cook all bird meat to 165 degrees F to kill these bacteria.
Cross contamination from raw meat to cooked meat needs to be avoided. Different plates and utensils should be used for each. All utensils and surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after preparing the meat. People should wear gloves when they wash wild birds and should wash their hands thoroughly when they're finished.