Avian influenza confirmed in dead Canada geese

CONCORD — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is announcing that Eurasian H5, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, was detected in Canada geese which were recently found dead in Strafford County.

This type of HPAI, as highly pathogenic avian influenza is known, is considered a low risk to humans, and sickness and mortality is usually low in wild birds but larger die-offs such as this one do happen. This virus could be a potential danger to the poultry industry and other domestic birds, such as at the Pumpkin Wall Farm in Derry last month.