The Missouri Department of Conservation is investigating a bird flu outbreak.

The department’s Deb Hudman told Missourinet it is actively monitoring reports of sick and dead waterfowl and raptors across the state, including geese, ducks, hawks, and eagles. Testing has confirmed the cause to be Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or “bird flu.”

“We’ve had eleven birds confirmed so far. We’re just starting to get some reports in,” she said. “It caught us a little off guard. Avian influenza usually starts to show up in Missouri around Thanksgiving time.”

Hudman is not sure if the reports and surveillance are coming in earlier than usual or if the disease is spreading earlier than usual.

“Whenever they do this migration over long distances and they start congregating in large numbers

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