Guidance for Hunters—Protect Yourself and

Your Birds From Avian Influenza

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE JANUARY 2015 

VETERINARY SERVICES/WILDLIFE SERVICES

Avian influenza (AI), commonly known as “bird 

flu,” is a respiratory disease of birds caused by an 

influenza type A virus. These viruses can infect 

poultry (chickens, ducks, quail, pheasants, guinea 

fowl, and turkeys) and some wild bird species (such 

as ducks, swans, and geese). Yet, they impact poultry 

and wild birds in different ways. Wild birds can carry 

the AI viruses but usually do not get sick from them. 

However, AI in poultry is typically contagious and 

can make some domesticated birds very sick or even 

cause death.

Types of AI Viruses

There are many different subtypes of influenza A 

viruses. These subtypes differ and are classified 

based on a combination of two groups of proteins on 

the surface of the influenza A virus: hemagglutinin 

or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), 

and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there 

are 9 (N1–N9). Many different combinations of “H” 

and “N” proteins are possible. Each combination 

is considered a different subtype and can also be 

broken down into different strains. AI viruses are 

further classified by their pathogenicity—the ability 

of a particular virus strain to produce disease in 

domestic chickens. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus 

strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to 

domestic poultry, and can spread rapidly from 

flock to flock. Low pathogenicity avian influenza 

(LPAI) virus strains occur naturally in wild migratory 

waterfowl and shorebirds without causing illness. 

The AI viruses that cause concern in poultry and 

wild birds are HPAI viruses and any virus designated 

as H5 or H7, regardless of pathogenicity. This 

is because H5 and H7 viruses are capable of 

converting from LPAI to HPAI. 

Take Precautions

There’s a lot you can do to reduce the risk of 

exposing your poultry or pet birds to AI. Basic safety 

precautions can keep disease from spreading. Please 

follow the guidance below to help protect your birds 

and yourself. 

Protect Your Birds

• Dress your game birds in the field whenever 

possible.

• If you must dress birds at home, clean them 

in an area your poultry and pet birds cannot 

access. Ideally, there would be a solid barrier 

between your game cleaning area and where 

your birds are housed.

• Keep a separate pair of shoes to wear only in 

your game cleaning area. If this is not possible, 

wear rubber footwear and clean/disinfect your 

shoes before entering or leaving the area.

• Use dedicated tools for cleaning game, whether 

in the field or at home. Do not use those tools 

around your poultry or pet birds.

• Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning game.

• Double bag the offal and feathers. Tie the inner 

bag, and be sure to take off your rubber gloves 

and leave them in the outer bag before tying 

it closed.

• Place the bag in a trash can that poultry and pet 

birds cannot access. This trash can should also 

be secure against access by children, pets, or 

other animals.

• Wash hands with soap and water immediately 

after handling game. If soap and water are not 

available, use alcohol wipes.

• Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and 

water. Then, disinfect them. 

 
Protect Yourself

• Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are 

obviously sick or found dead.

• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning game.

• Wear rubber gloves while cleaning game or 

cleaning bird feeders.

• Wash hands with soap and water immediately 

after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. 

If soap and water are not available, use alcohol 

wipes.

• Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and 

water. Then, disinfect them.

• Avoid cross-contamination. Keep uncooked 

game in a separate container, away from 

cooked or ready-to-eat foods.

• Cook game meat thoroughly; poultry should 

reach an internal temperature of 165 °F to kill 

disease organisms and parasites.

Questions?

For more information about AI, contact your 

Federal, State, or local animal health officials. 

Contact information for the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services office 

in your State is available on our Web site at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/state-offices. 

If you have any questions or concerns about wild 

birds, contact your local USDA Wildlife Services 

office at 1-866-4-USDA-WS.

USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider 

APHIS 91-55-098 and employer.