State officials today confirmed that a sick Hawaiian duck found at the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge on Kauai a few months ago likely died of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The endangered, native duck was found sick on Nov. 26 at the refuge, and died within 24 hours. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources was awaiting results from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories and can now confirm it carried the deadly H5N1 subtype of influenza A or bird flu.
“Avian influenza is a highly infectious and often deadly subtype of influenza A that mainly affects birds,” said DLNR in a news release. “Human infections are rare but can occur with close contact. This Kauai detection was likely introduced through an infected migratory waterfowl.”
With migratory bird season underway, officials said, more birds traveling through the islands may carry avian diseases and it is recommended that the public avoid touching or handling wild birds, especially waterfowl or shorebirds.
Hawaii’s first detection of H5N1 occurred in November 2024 at Susie’s Duck Sanctuary in Wahiawa on Oahu, which resulted in the death or euthanasia of more than 70 ducks and geese. That same month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also confirmed H5N1 in a hybrid duck from the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Kahuku.
That duck showed no signs of infection when tested, and was swabbed and released by USFWS during an ongoing project on genetics.
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Last year, the state confirmed two additional cases in migratory Koloa Mapu, or Northern pintail, ducks — one that was reported ill at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus on Oahu and one that was found along the Wailea shoreline on Maui.
DLNR and the Hawaii Departments of Health and Agriculture and Biosecurity continue to monitor public health reports, poultry operations and wild bird populations for signs of virus spread. There have been no additional detections since the one on Kauai.
If encountering sick or dead birds, state officials advise the public to:
>> Avoid touching or handling wild birds, especially waterfowl or shorebirds.
>> Wear gloves, minimize contact and follow biosafety protocols if capturing a dead or sick bird is necessary.
>>Report multiple or unusual illnesses in poultry, livestock or other wild birds to DAB’s Animal Industry Division at (808) 483-7100, (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays) or (808) 837-8092 during non-business hours or email [email protected].