Monroe, Washington – More than three dozen dead geese found at Monroe’s Lake Tye Park have alerted city officials to the possibility of avian flu in the area. As reported by KIRO News, other geese observed in the area are showing signs of being unwell.
Monroe Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Teague observed a goose “cackling” and “rolling on its back,” telling KIRO, “You don’t have to be a bird expert to know that they are not well.”
Since Saturday, the Parks and Recreation team has found 34 dead birds at the park. People have reported birds dropping dead “all of a sudden” in the vicinity. The dead birds will undergo testing by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Recently, a person in Yakima County died from the bird flu. Public health officials have emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low. The resident, who died November 1 after developing severe H5N1 illness following exposure to infected dairy cattle, had underlying health conditions, according to the Yakima Health District.
Officials have not released additional personal or medical details. The other reported human infections associated with the Yakima dairy outbreak have not resulted in hospitalization. Health officials have found no evidence of human-to-human transmission in the United States. People most at risk are those who have prolonged or direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, particularly dairy and poultry workers.
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