Cholera in humans causes a gastrointestinal illness, sometimes with severe watery diarrhea. Cholera in birds results erratic behaviours and death within 48 hours.
Cholera in Birds
A recent outbreak of cholera has been reported in birds of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Avian cholera, the most common infection in wild waterfowl in North America, is responsible for the deaths of some 15,000 birds over the past month. Bird carcasses (including eared grebes, ruddy ducks, California gulls and northern shovelers) have been found along the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Avian cholera is not related to human cholera: in birds cholera is caused by a different bacterium than the one that causes cholera in humans. Avian cholera is caused by Pasteurella multocida; human cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae.
Pasteurella multocida can be spread by bird-to-bird contact, contact with secretions or feces from infected birds, or contaminated food or water. Aerosol spread can also occur especially during colder months when birds are concentrated together.
Death can result in an early as 6-12 hours following infection, although the average time of death is 24-48 hours after infection. Death may be rapid with birds reportedly falling out of the sky or dying while eating.
Symptoms of avian cholera:
- lethargy,
- convulsions,
- swimming in circles,
- throwing the head back between the wings,
- erratic flight (e.g. flying upside down or attempting to land above the water),
- mucousy discharge from the mouth.
Humans can be infected by birds through a scratch or wound when handling infected carcasses. However, it is unlikely to be infected from eating infected birds.
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