Avian Flu Reported in Gallatin County. What You Need to Know

Gallatin County officials have confirmed a case of avian influenza A (H5N1) in a flock of domestic poultry in rural Gallatin County.

The case was detected at a site last week near Manhattan/Belgrade. The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) has identified a “Surveillance Zone” of slightly over six miles around the detection site, and an investigation is currently ongoing. The Surveillance Zone includes all of Manhattan and parts of northwest Belgrade.

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Avian flu or "Bird Flu" can easily spread from wild birds to poultry, such as chickens or turkeys.

According to the Gallatin City-County Health Department, here is what to do if you have questions regarding the risk of H5N1 spread in Gallatin County.

If you own a flock and notice sudden illness or death, contact your local veterinarian immediately. You also need to report it to the Montana Department of Livestock by calling 406-444-2976.

In addition,  dead or sick wild birds need to be reported to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Contact information is below.

• Local FWP Warden or Regional Office
• Gallatin County FWP Office – 406-585-9010
• State FWP Wildlife Veterinarian – 406-577-7880

If you identify potential illness in your flock, report it, and avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild birds or domestic birds. You should avoid contact with poultry and wild birds that appear ill or dead.  If you must handle sick or dead poultry, you should wear proper PPE and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

The information in this article was provided in a Gallatin City-County Health Department press release.