The Hawaii Department of Health State Laboratories Division on Tuesday reported that a wastewater sample collected on Dec. 2 at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaii Island contained the H5 avian influenza.
This is the first time bird flu has been detected on a neighbor island.
Wastewater testing isn’t able to determine if the sample is of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 subtype of bird flu virus recently found on Oahu.
The H5N1 virus in Hawaii was first confirmed in Nov. 2024, in a backyard flock of birds in Central Oahu. DOH says that virus strain is a different genotype from the one that has infected birds and dairy cows on the U.S. Mainland.
Risk to the public remains low, according to DOH, but HPAI can cause severe illness leading to a high mortality rate among certain bird populations such as poultry.
DOH advises commercial poultry producers and residents with backyard flocks to increase biosecurity measures to reduce the chance of infection. HPAI can also infect dairy cows. Pasteurized milk is safe, but raw milk should be avoided.
The public can report multiple or unusual illnesses in poultry, livestock or other wild birds or animals to the HDOA Animal Industry Division at 808-483-7102 from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 808-837-8092 during non-business hours and holidays.
Residents who believe they may have been exposed to sick birds or other wildlife are urged to contact the Disease Outbreak Control Division Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586 for guidance.
Online resources for avian influenza:
HDOA, Avian Influenza - Biosecurity in the context of animal agriculture
DOH avian influenza information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention