Understanding Bird Flu in Clinton County

Dear Ausable Neighbors,

You may have seen recent headlines about bird flu—or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1—making waves across the country. Here in Clinton County, our local health officials are keeping a close eye on the situation, and I wanted to share some key updates from the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) to keep you informed and prepared. This information comes straight from a recent article in the Press Republican, and it’s worth a read for anyone who enjoys our rural way of life—especially those of us with backyard chickens or a love for the wildlife around us.

What’s Happening with Bird Flu?

Bird flu isn’t new to New York. It’s been circulating among wild birds in small numbers since 2022, including here in the North Country. This strain of influenza has spread from wild birds to poultry, dairy cattle, and even some mammals like domestic cats in other parts of the country. In rare cases, it’s made people sick—but only those who’ve had direct contact with infected animals, like dairy cows or birds. The good news? There’s no evidence it’s spreading person-to-person in the U.S., and here in New York, we haven’t seen any human cases or detections in cattle.

Clinton County, including our Town of Ausable, has been fortunate so far. According to Jeffrey Sisson, Director of Public Health at the CCHD, we haven’t had any cases in domestic poultry, cattle, or other mammals. While wild birds in our area are showing expected levels of HPAI, the risk to you and your family remains low.

What’s Being Done?

Our state and local agencies—the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)—are teaming up to monitor the situation and protect both people and animals. The DEC even launched a handy online tool this year where you can report dead birds, especially if you spot multiple in one place. This helps them track the virus and catch any unusual activity early.

How Can We Stay Safe?

While the risk is low, there are some simple steps we can all take to keep it that way:

• Steer Clear of Sick or Dead Wildlife: If you see a sick or dead bird or mammal, don’t touch it. Keep your kids and pets away too.
• Handle with Care: If you need to remove a carcass (say, from your yard), use a shovel if you can, wear disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection, and wash up thoroughly afterward. Triple-bag the remains and toss them in an outdoor trash bin.
• Report Unusual Sightings: Spot a bunch of dead birds? Let the DEC know through their avian influenza reporting tool.

For Our Backyard Chicken Keepers

Ausable is home to plenty of folks who raise poultry, and the CCHD has a special message for you. While our commercial farms have strict safety measures, backyard flocks need protection too. Wild birds can carry HPAI, so keep your chickens completely separated from them. Check out agriculture.ny.gov/animals/poultry for tips on beefing up your biosecurity plan. If you notice sick or dead poultry, give the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets a call at 518-457-3502.

The Bottom Line

As Mr. Sisson put it, “The risk to the public right now is low.” Our local health team is on top of this, working together for a healthier community, and they’ll keep us posted if anything changes. For now, there’s no need to panic—just stay aware and take a few common-sense precautions.

Want to dig deeper? You can learn more about H5N1 at health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/avian/.

Let’s keep looking out for each other—and our feathered friends—here in Ausable. If you’ve got questions or spot something odd, don’t hesitate to reach out to our local officials. Stay safe, everyone!

-Tim