NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — The community of North Fort Myers lost two baby eagles due to the bird flu, the Clinic for Wildlife Rehabilitation of Wildlife reports.
WATCH AS COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT ANVAR RUZIEV COVERS THE POTENTIAL RISKS OF THE INFECTION TO PEOPLE:
People had been watching both E24 and E25 grow in this year's nest at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam. They were born from parents, M15 and F23.
Overnight on Tuesday, a SWFL Eagle Cam Facebook post said E25 began having seizures similar to those experienced by E24 earlier. It struggled to stay upright, and fell out of the nest. E24 had been found covered in blood that week, appearing to have come from a broken blood feather on the left wing.
The CDC reports avian influenza A viruses may be transmitted from infected birds to other animals, and potentially to humans. Direct infection can occur from exposure to saliva, mucous, or feces from infected birds.
On Thursday, experts at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) confirmed that the eaglets’ deaths were caused by the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu. They believe the infection started when M15, the father eagle, brought an infected bird into the nest as food. The eaglets consumed the contaminated prey and both passed away within four days.
"There are some reports stating that raptors who develop clinical signs have about a 90 to 100 percent mortality rate," said Jessica Comolli, CROW’s Research and Medical Director. "So it is a very, very contagious, very pathogenic disease."
While avian flu primarily affects birds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that humans can also be infected. The first U.S. death from H5N1 was reported in Louisiana earlier this month. In the last year, 66 human cases have been reported in the U.S., with over 950 cases worldwide. The CDC says about half of those cases have been fatal.
"This strain has been shown to infect humans," Comolli added. "While the general public is at less risk, individuals who work closely with infected animals—as well as those who are immunocompromised—are at a higher risk."
CROW representatives say they have been seeing an increase in bird flu cases in Southwest Florida over the past few years, with the last confirmed case occurring just last month.
The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, which has been monitoring eagle nests for 13 years, has never encountered a case like this before.
"In the 13 years that we have been monitoring this camera, we've never had a case like this before that we know of," said co-founder Ginnie Pritchett-McSpadden. "I do know CROW has been reporting there have been other cases in the state."
Wildlife experts urge people to take precautions if they encounter an injured bird or any animal that may be infected. CROW advises avoiding direct skin contact, wearing gloves and a mask, and contacting CROW or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for guidance.
Meanwhile, CROW and those monitoring the nest say they will continue to watch over M15 and F23 for any signs of illness and will intervene if necessary.
