Birds are falling dead and littering Outer Banks beaches. Don’t touch them, park says

A growing number of sick and dying birds are being found on North Carolina’s barrier islands, and the National Park Service is warning people not to touch them.

It’s suspected the migrating seabirds are suffering the effects of diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans, experts say.

“There is normally some die off associated with these winter flocks due to stresses from migration and diseases such as avian flu or the more infectious highly pathogenic avian influenza,” the Cape Lookout National Seashore reported in a news release.

“We are unfortunately seeing dead and dying birds at roosting or congregation sites throughout the seashore. Should you come across a dead or dying bird, for your safety, do not touch the bird(s). Leave them in place.”

The viruses are natural among aquatic birds, including “ducks, geese, gulls, terns, cormorants, and pelicans.” Some migrating shorebirds (plovers and sandpipers) are also vulnerable, the park says.

Symptoms of infection in people can include shortness of breath, coughing, sore throat, runny nose and irritated eyes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

“People rarely get bird flu, but when they do, it’s most often through direct unprotected contact (no gloves, protective wear, face masks, respirators or eye protection) with infected birds,” the CDC says.

“People can become infected by breathing virus in droplets in the air or possibly dust, or by touching surfaces contaminated with infected bird mucous, saliva or feces and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose. Human illness from bird flu has ranged from no symptoms at all to severe illness, resulting in death,” the CDC reports.

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