HONOLULU — State health officials are urging caution after a presumptive case of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, was identified in a duck found on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus.
The duck, discovered earlier this week by a student, tested positive for the H5 subtype of influenza A virus, according to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH). Confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Iowa is expected within the next one to two weeks.
“At this time, the risk of infection to humans remains low,” officials said, noting that human cases are rare and typically linked to direct contact with infected animals.
Avian influenza has been circulating globally and is highly contagious among wild birds and poultry. In the U.S., recent outbreaks have affected hundreds of dairy cattle herds across 18 states, including California.
Hawaii has seen limited spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The state’s first outbreak occurred last November at Susie’s Duck Sanctuary in Wahiawa, where at least 10 birds, including ducks, geese, and a wild zebra dove, died from the virus. Over 70 waterfowl, including ducks adopted by families in Pearl Harbor, were either euthanized or died due to the outbreak.
Earlier cases also included a wild duck at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Kahuku, which tested positive but showed no signs of illness. Since then, no new detections had been reported on the islands until this week.
The student who found the sick duck reported it to the Hawaii Wildlife Center, a nonprofit that rehabilitates wild birds, including seabirds disoriented during fallout season, which runs from mid-September through mid-December.
“As Hawai‘i enters migratory bird season, this latest case is a reminder that wild birds can carry diseases to the islands,” officials said. “The public should remain vigilant.”
Authorities advise anyone encountering sick or dead birds to avoid touching or handling them, particularly waterfowl or shorebirds. Unusual illnesses or deaths in poultry, livestock, or wild birds should be reported to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Division at 808-483-7100 during business hours, 808-837-8092 after hours, or via email at dabic@hawaii.gov.
State agencies including DOH, the Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources are actively monitoring poultry farms, wildlife populations, and health reports for any signs of virus spread.