USDA Confirms Bird Flu Detected in Rats in Riverside

Bird flu has been detected in four black rats located in Riverside County, Calif., for the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed in a report on Wednesday.

The black rats were tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in late January, according to the report.

The agency reported several other infected mammals around the country, like a harbor seal in Massachusetts, mountain lions in Wisconsin, Bottlenose dolphins in Florida and an Eastern gray squirrel in New York.

As noted in Newsweek article, black rats, typically found in urban environments, represent a new transmission risk because they can spread the virus through multiple pathways: droppings, urine, blood, and saliva. Their mobility between farms and residential areas could accelerate the virus's spread to both humans and their pets.

Rodents pose some health and safety hazards to technicians doing rodent control. Pest management professionals can read more on how to stay safe on the job here.

Sources: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Newsweek