'It's a cause for concern.' Local doctor discusses rise in bird flu
Birds throughout the Hudson Valley have recently died from the avian flu, including 12 Canada Geese found in a pond in Thornwood Park.
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With an increasing number of birds becoming sick with bird flu, News 12 set out to find out what people should know about the virus.
News 12 spoke with Dr. Laurie Hess, of the Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics in Bedford Hills.
Hess is also the editor-in-chief for the Merck Veterinary manual. Hess recently worked on this piece about the illness.
"It's a cause for concern because it is really pathogenic to birds and now we know it can go into some other animals as well," said Hess.
She explains that the virus is spread to other birds through respiratory fluids and fecal matter. She adds that geese and ducks spread it further while migrating.
Hess encourages farm workers and veterinarians to be careful and for pet owners to closely monitor their four-legged friends.
As News 12 has previously reported, dead Canada geese have been found in a park in Spring Valley and 12 others were found in a pond in a Thornwood park.
To date, there have been no human cases of bird flu in New York.
