Understanding Rodents and Bird Flu

Editor’s note: In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) confirmed that four black rats in Riverside County, California, tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1). The rats, initially tested in late January, were reportedly associated with two infected poultry farms. PCT caught up with Mike Bentley, vice president of training and technical services for the National Pest Management Association, to find out more about this development.

The recent USDA report about four black rats testing positive for bird flu in Riverside County, Calif., has raised questions in the pest control industry. Bentley told PCT that NPMA is closely monitoring updates from the CDC and USDA regarding the situation.

Bentley said it is important to note that there is no evidence to suggest that rodents can directly transmit HPAI. “It’s possible for an organism to harbor a pathogen without being a competent vector,” said Bentley. “We are not aware of any current research demonstrating the ability of commensal rodents to successfully vector HPAI.”

Still, it’s better for pest management professionals to err on the side of caution when it comes to personal safety, Bentley said. Pest management professionals (PMPs) should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working in areas designated by the CDC as high-risk for exposure to the virus. A current list of areas identified by the CDC as high risk can be found online. 

NPMA has been engaged on the federal level when it comes to bird flu, including being invited to participate in weekly USDA discussions related to the avian flu outbreak and efforts to mitigate transmissions. “NPMA works hard to maintain clear lines of communication with state and federal agencies when it comes to public health pests and the interests of the structural pest control industry,” said Bentley. “We will continue to be an advocate for public health, the industry, the essential workers employed across North America.”  

Could USDA’s findings of HPAI-positive black rats in Riverside impact rodenticide restrictions imposed in California? That remains to be seen, but Bentley said this recent USDA report “further underscores the importance of maintaining access to every tool available to continue the fight against this dangerous public health pest.”