Avian flu is inching closer to the Vineyard and while no cases have been detected here yet, officials suspect the virus could already be on-Island.

The bird flu, called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has been recurring in Massachusetts since 2022 and state officials last week said the disease appears to be widespread, killing both wild and domestic birds in several mainland municipalities. 

State scientists also believe avian flu, which rarely infects humans, is present in places where there have been no confirmed cases.

“It’s really important to get the word out,” said Marina Lent, the health agent of Aquinnah. 

Waterfowl are especially susceptible to bird flu. — Ray Ewing

Alarm was raised in January when more than 60 Canada geese, swans and other birds were found dead at a pond in Plymouth. While samples are still being tested, MassWildlife suspects avian flu was the cause and is urging the public to report groups of five or more dead birds to the state.

There have been more than 100 cases on Cape Cod going back to 2022, and there were five cases detected in deceased gulls on Nantucket last year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Twenty wild turkeys were found dead in the Smith Hollow neighborhood in Edgartown over the weekend and officials suspect bird flu was the culprit.

Brice Boutot, the health agent for Edgartown, said environmental police brought a few of the turkey carcasses to MassWildlife for testing and the rest were disposed of by animal control.

“It could be infection, it could also be toxicity,” Mr. Boutot said. “We’re awaiting results and will share them as soon as we get them.”

Ms. Lent said she is not aware of a time when avian flu was confirmed on the Vineyard, but it is likely that migratory seabirds have brought a small number of cases here.

The disease can infect humans and while infections are rare, Ms. Lent urged the public to take precautions and not touch any dead birds, even ones that appear to be well decomposed. Public health officials also ask people to keep pets away from wildlife, avoid handling birds and regularly clean bird feeders and the surrounding area.

“It’s important that residents know to avoid contact with sick or dead birds,” said Lea Hamner, an epidemiologist for Barnstable County who also does work on the Vineyard. “Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to an infected bird should monitor themselves closely for symptoms of avian bird flu for 10 days; if symptoms develop a doctor should be notified of the exposure and perform an evaluation for potential avian influenza.”

Though waterfowl and aquatic birds are the most at risk for infection, cats are also susceptible, as are other wild mammals that scavenge on birds.

Ms. Lent said there’s not enough information to determine how threatening the disease is to humans, but in extreme cases, predominantly in Asia, it has been fatal.

“The infections of humans in [the U.S.] over the past year and a half or so have been mild and mostly conjunctivitis,” she said.

Ms. Lent is creating flyers with information on how to report dead bird findings to the state and plans to post them along beaches. She stressed that dead birds don’t always indicate that avian flu is present.

Poultry farmers are taking extra precautions for their flocks. — Tim Johnson

“Who walks the beach and doesn’t find a dead bird in the winter,” Ms. Lent said. “I don’t want people to panic.”

Wildlife experts are concerned the disease will continue to spread and affect biodiversity.

John Herbert, the director of bird conservation for MassAudubon, said if the avian flu infects an endangered species, the overall population could suffer.

“It’s highly pathogenic, which means it can be transmitted very easily among individuals, and it can take a hit on a population,” Mr. Herbert said.

But Mr. Herbert stressed that it’s still early and they haven’t seen a decline in any particular population.

It’s not just seabirds that carry the disease. Mr. Herbert said poultry are at risk, though it rarely infects songbirds, like chickadees or robins.

Simon Athearn, the CEO of Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown, said he’s concerned the flu will reach the farm’s chickens. 

Morning Glory has about 1,100 chickens in its winter flock, and while the farm has been following the state’s updated guidelines for many years, Mr. Athearn has stepped up sanitation protocols. The farm is not allowing visitors in its hen houses, not letting people cross between flocks and checking the chickens’ behavior daily.

The state Department of Agricultural Resources is recommending poultry owners keep their flocks away from wild birds. Mr. Athearn urged homeowners with flocks of their own to take precautions, not only for the safety of their birds, but to prevent the disease spreading to local farms.

“This is the time to be vigilant,” Mr. Athearn said.

The avian flu has had an effect on egg sales around the Island. Some stores have had shortages, spurring customers to Island farms. Morning Glory has seen an uptick in egg sales the past two months. The farm sells about 50 dozen eggs a day and often sells out.

Stop & Shop in Edgartown had a sign posted on its cases explaining that the bird flu has caused a shortage of eggs and increasing the cost across the retail industry.

For the past month, both locations of Cronig’s markets have only had eggs on their shelves about 25 per cent of the time, said Steve Bernier, the former owner. The markets have signs on the shelves attributing the shortage to avian flu in off-Island farms where the stores’ eggs are sourced.

“We have no interface with the avian flu itself, just a shortage of the product,” Mr. Bernier said.

To report observations of five or more sick or dead birds, use this form: https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds

To report sick or dead poultry or other domestic birds, call the MDAR’s Division of Animal Health at (617)-626-1795 or through this form: https://www.mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-form

Editor's note: this article has been updated with information about dead turkeys found in Edgartown.