Hawaiʻi County Council resolution would urge state to consider humane ways to deal with potential avian flu outbreak

In November, Hawai‘i was the last of the 50 states to detect the highly pathogenic avian influenza when a bird sanctuary in Wahiawā on O‘ahu was infected with the virus. 

The response by the state Department of Agriculture was to have veterinarians disinfect the property by euthanizing about 100 birds.

That same month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service detected highly pathogenic avian influenza in a single duck at a North Shore wildlife refuge, also on Oʻahu.

Since those incidents, there have been no further detections of the influenza at either location as wildlife surveillance continues by multiple state and federal agencies. But lifelong Big Island resident Haddie Gerrish, who raises chickens, said Jan. 21 at the meeting of the Hawaiʻi County Council’s Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs that she is concerned about how the state Department of Agriculture would handle a case of the avian flu on the Big Island.

“Depopulation, or mass culling, is the main response to the avian flu on the mainland and entire flocks have been killed, even if some birds had no contact with sick birds or had recovered,” Gerrish said. “Mass culling is not effective and does not control the spread of the virus as it has become endemic. There are more humane alternatives out there.” 

In a resolution introduced by Councilmember Heather Kimball, the state departments of Agriculture and Health are urged to consult with local poultry farmers to develop an avian flu response plan and consider alternatives to depopulation as the main response strategy.

A response plan would include preventative measures, testing, monitoring protocols and public outreach. Instead of mass culling, the resolution asks for the promotion of strict quarantine and vaccinations, which have been utilized for the infected dairy cow herds on the mainland.

“Forced culling is not the Aloha spirit, and I hope the state will support all of Hawaiʻi’s small farmers,” Gerrish said during her testimony. “I care deeply for my chickens and just want them to have a chance. Please let us have a choice, so we can come up with a plan that is safe for birds and good for small farmers.”

During the committee meeting, the councilmembers voted 8-0 — with Vice Chair Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder excused — to forward the resolution with a favorable recommendation to the County Council. 

In the United States, poultry flocks and dairy cattle herds have exposed more than 10,300 farm workers to the virus, causing at least 67 confirmed, but usually mild, human cases. Of these, 40 are from cattle contact, 23 are from poultry exposure and 4 are unknown as of Tuesday, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Infection.

The nation also has seen its first human fatality — a Louisiana man in his 60s who interacted with sick backyard birds and was hospitalized before succumbing to the virus.

The avian flu outbreak on the mainland also has led to shoppers seeing empty shelves of mainland eggs and very high priced locally sourced eggs for a couple weeks.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Market Analysis and News Branch has released data on retail egg prices in Honolulu comparing prices between December 2021 and 2024.

The data indicates that the price for a dozen locally produced eggs rose by 28.4% from $6.91 to $8.87 while the price of imported mainland eggs increased by 51.8% from $5.50 to $8.35 from 2021 to 2024.

The increase in price of mainland eggs can be mainly attributed to the avian influenza as it has widely impacted egg production, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

“The increase in local production of eggs has been closing the price gap with imported mainland eggs,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawaiʻi Board of Agriculture. “The avian influenza outbreak on the mainland is another example of why food security in Hawaiʻi is so important. Supporting local farmers and ranchers helps to ensure our food supply.”

While there have only been two detections of the avian flu on Hawaiʻi, they were identified as strains associated with migratory birds, which makes prevention much more difficult.

Earlier this month, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division began urging poultry operations and backyard bird owners to increase biosecurity measures to protect their flocks to reduce the likelihood of introduction of the highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Biosecurity measures recommended include:

• Minimize traffic coming onto the premises
• Avoid visiting farms that keep poultry/waterfowl/game birds
• Seal poultry house attics and cover ventilation openings with screens
• Keep your poultry in closed and locked houses with only essential personnel allowed inside
• Clean or disposable coveralls, head covers and plastic boots or boots that can be cleaned
• Before working with flock, wear clean clothing and footwear
• Do not share equipment or vehicles with other farms
• Change disinfectant foot baths daily, place foot baths at outside entries to poultry houses
• Outside trucks or vehicles should not go directly to any farm to load birds and any vehicles transporting birds should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before returning to the farm
• Insist that supplies brought to your premises be disposable, new or cleaned and disinfected
• Follow the “all-in/all-out” philosophy of flock management
• Protect open range or backyard poultry flocks from contact with wild birds and water that may have been contaminated by wild birds
• Dispose of dead birds safely by incineration, burial or composting, and never pile dead birds outside of a building or spread in fields
• If multiple load-outs are required on your farm, try to have all birds off the farm within 3 to 4 days
• Report any increased illness or mortality to your company or to the Department of Agriculture at 808-483-7100 or 808-837-8092

While some measures can be implemented easily and at little cost, others may be more difficult and costly, especially for backyard bird owners. 

“I have a flock of seven hens that have a fenced in area for laying eggs and usually only have contact with mina birds, cardinals and doves,” backyard bird-owner Brandon Rinzai said. “It seems like the biggest issue may be with large poultry operations, so I try not to worry about it too much. If it got really bad, I would have to find a way to enclose them, but it would take time and money of course.”

Rinzai has added protein to his chickensʻ diets and hens have been producing one egg a day, giving him about 35 to 49 eggs per week.

He has always given out the eggs his hens lay for free and plans to continue this practice despite the egg shortage in stores.

“I never feel right selling things we need to others and there’s something special about sharing food in particular,” Rinzai said. 

For those with poultry flocks, keep an eye out for the symptoms of avian influenza, which include:

• Sudden death without any prior symptoms of illness;
• Lack of energy and appetite;
• A drop in egg production or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs;
• Swelling of the eyelids, comb, wattles and shanks;
• Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs;
• Gasping for air or difficulty breathing;
• Nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing;
• Twisting of the head and neck, or torticollis,
• Stumbling or falling down;
• Diarrhea.

To report multiple or unusual illnesses in poultry, livestock or other wild birds or animals, contact the Animal Industry Division with as much detail as possible between 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 808-483-7100, or by email at hdoa.ldc@hawaii.gov.

When removing dead birds, the Animal Industry Division advises wearing disposable gloves, or turning a plastic bag inside out, to pick up the carcass, then double-bag the carcass, and throw it out with the regular trash. Wash your hands and disinfect your clothing and shoes after handling a dead wild bird and be mindful of any health symptoms that may develop afterward.