Bird flu could spread to Lake Morton swans, pets, vet says

LAKELAND, Fla. – A lot of people like to stop and feed the royal swans that call Lake Morton home, but as a bird flu outbreak spreads across the country, that could put them at risk of contracting the deadly virus. 

Local perspective:

It was Jerri Sheffield and her two-year-old granddaughter, Kenzie River's, first time together at Lake Morton. Sheffield said she loves the lake for its amazing view and relaxing atmosphere.

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She also loves it because of all the birds, mainly the ducks.

“Just seeing my grandchildren and my children before then feeding the ducks and the joy they had in it and the birds themselves enjoying the eating — that's what I enjoyed most,” said Sheffield. 

Big picture view:

Dr. Price Dickson, a veterinarian at My Pet's Animal Hospital who is also the City of Lakeland's swan veterinarian, is concerned a new bird flu strain could spread to the 53 royal swans and to the other birds on the lake.

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“The flu gets brought in by wild birds that are migrating, so primarily our ducks, ibises, other things that travel from lake to lake. They're social birds. They'll gather together, squabble and peck each other and transmit disease,” said Dickson.

Dig deeper:

Symptoms include tiredness, unwillingness to move, mucus and droopy eyes. The virus can also attack the brain, so there can be strange movement and seizures. 

Even though swans prefer social distancing and there haven't been any confirmed cases of bird flu in Polk County, Dickson does have advice for people who like to feed the swans and other birds at the lake.

“I would recommend anyone who's feeding the swans or geese to do a lot of handwashing, especially if they come into contact with their own chickens or other birds,” she said. 

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What they're saying:

Knowing the risk now, Sheffield said she'd be cautious.

“The city has taken so much time and effort to make sure they're healthy and get what they need, and they can have the babies and stay here and secure, so we definitely don't want them to get sick,” said Sheffield. 

What you can do:

The strain can also jump to pets, including cattle and cats, so Dickson recommended keeping your cats indoors for their safety.

What's next:

The United States Department of Agriculture is also working on a vaccine for chickens, which Dickson said if one is developed, she's interested in vaccinating the swans during their yearly roundup.

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