Duck Hunters' Perceptions of Risk for Avian Influenza, Georgia, USA

EID Journal Home > Volume 16, Number 8–August 2010

Volume 16, Number 8–August 2010
Dispatch
Duck Hunters' Perceptions of Risk for Avian Influenza, Georgia, USA
Hope Dishman , David Stallknecht, and Dana Cole1
Georgia Department of Community Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (H. Dishman, D. Cole); and University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA (D. Stallknecht, D. Cole)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
To determine duck hunters'risk for highly pathogenic avian influenza, we surveyed duck hunters in Georgia, USA, during 2007–2008, about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices. We found they engage in several practices that could expose them to the virus. Exposures and awareness were highest for those who had hunted >10 years.

Introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) (HPAI) could have several devastating effects in the United States. Illness and death caused by HPAI have been reported for humans, waterfowl, and other animals (1). In 2009, the estimated population of ducks susceptible to HPAI in the traditional survey area of North America was 42 million (2). Domestic poultry are also susceptible to HPAI (1). The retail equivalent of the broiler industry (which accounts for most commercial chicken production) in the United States was $44 billion in 2008; in 2007, Georgia led the country by producing 16% of all broilers (3).

Waterfowl and shorebirds are natural reservoirs of influenza A viruses (4). Antibodies to avian influenza virus (H11N9) have been detected in 2 of 68 Iowa Department of Natural Resources employees and in 1 of 39 Iowa duck hunters (5). These 3 men had 27, 30, and 31 years of experience, respectively, possibly indicating time- or behavior-dependent associations with exposure. We therefore sought to gain a better understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and hunting practices of duck hunters and to better characterize their potential for exposure to influenza virus while hunting North American waterfowl. We hypothesized that the recent focus on the potential for introduction of HPAI into a North American migratory bird flyway (6) may increase hunter awareness of this virus.

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http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/8/1279.htm

Suggested Citation for this Article
Dishman H, Stallknecht D, Cole D. Duck hunters'perceptions of risk for avian influenza, Georgia, USA. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Aug [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/8/1279.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1608.100032

1Current affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.