WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is asking people in Southwest Virginia to report any cases of suspected avian flu after it received reports of dead black vultures in the area.

According to the DWR, preliminary testing has found that the black vultures are likely dying due to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

"Although disease activity is currently centered in black vultures, with migration season beginning, it is likely there will be mortalities in other bird species as well," DWR stated in a news release.

The DWR provided the following reasons for reporting suspected cases of avian flu: • Five or more dead vultures, waterfowl, shorebirds, or seabirds in the same area within five days • Sick or dead eagles, hawks, owls

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