Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Hunters—Protect Your Poultry and Pet Birds 

From Avian Influenza

Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is a respiratory disease of 

birds caused by influenza A viruses. Wild birds, such as 

ducks, gulls, and shorebirds, can carry and spread these 

viruses but may show no signs of illness. However, avian 

influenza can kill domestic poultry (such as chickens, 

turkeys, ducks, and geese). 

Avian influenza spreads quickly through direct, bird-tobird contact. It can also spread to birds via contaminated 

surfaces and materials, including people’s clothing, shoes, 

or hands. 

If you raise poultry or keep pet birds, follow the 

recommendations below to make sure you don’t spread 

avian influenza to your birds. 

When Hunting

• Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously 

sick or found dead.

• Wash your hands with soap and water immediately 

after handling game. If soap and water are not 

available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

When Dressing Game Birds 

• Always wear disposable gloves when handling or 

cleaning game and wash hands with soap and water 

immediately afterward. If soap and water are not 

available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Dress game birds in the field whenever possible.

• If you can’t dress birds in the field, clean them in a 

location away from poultry and other birds.

• Keep a separate pair of shoes to wear only in your 

game cleaning area. If this is not possible, wear rubber 

footwear and clean and 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 

poultry or pet birds.

• Double bag the offal and feathers. Tie the inner bag, 

take off your gloves, and leave them in the outer bag 

before tying it closed. Then wash your hands or use 

hand sanitizer. 
• Place the bag in a trash can that poultry and pet birds 

cannot access. Make sure the trash can is covered and 

children, pets, or other animals can’t get into it.

• Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and water. 

Then, disinfect them using a freshly mixed chlorine 

solution consisting of 1/3 cup of household bleach per 

1 gallon of water.

After Coming in Contact With Wild Birds 

on Your Property

• Do not handle wild birds that are obviously sick or 

found dead.

• Wear disposable gloves while cleaning bird feeders 

and wash hands with soap and water immediately 

afterward. If soap and water are not available, use an 

alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Protecting Yourself

Although avian influenza viruses rarely infect people, you 

should still protect yourself. To reduce your risk:

• Do not eat, drink, or put anything in your mouth while 

cleaning or handling game.

• Avoid cross-contamination. Keep uncooked game in 

a separate container, away from cooked or ready-toeat foods.

• Cook game meat thoroughly. Poultry should reach 

an internal temperature of 165 °F to kill disease 

organisms and parasites.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. APHIS 91-55-098 | Revised February 2022

About Avian Influenza

Avian influenza viruses are classified based on 

a combination of two groups of proteins: the 

hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 

16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of 

which there are 9 (N1–N9). These viruses are further 

categorized as either low or high pathogenicity, 

indicating their ability to produce disease in poultry. 

Low pathogenicity avian influenza is common in wild 

birds in the United States and around the world. In 

most cases, it causes few or no signs of infection. 

However, some strains can become highly pathogenic 

in poultry.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is extremely 

contagious and deadly to domestic poultry. If we find 

it in the United States, we must quickly eradicate the 

disease to protect our Nation’s flocks and economy. 

Questions?

For more information about avian influenza in domestic 

and wild birds, go to www.aphis.usda.gov and search 

“avian influenza.” 

For more information about avian influenza and human 

health, visit the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (www.cdc.gov) and search “avian influenza.”