Thurston County residents should clean bird feeders monthly and wear gloves when handling them, the county health department said Monday, Oct. 5.
Thurston County Public Health & Social Services posted the advisory on X, linking to a detailed guidance sheet as highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as HPAI, continues to circulate among wild birds in Washington. The agency described the virus as a highly contagious strain of bird flu spreading among birds and dairy cows. Human infections are rare but possible through contact with infected animals.
Avian flu detections in wild birds have been climbing nationally as fall migration picks up, according to CIDRAP at the University of Minnesota. Washington has been hit hard: more than 4.1 million birds across 21 counties had been infected as of November 2025, a total that has likely grown, the Seattle Times reported. A Grays Harbor County resident died in November 2025 from the H5N5 strain, the first known human case of that variant, according to CIDRAP. That patient, an older adult with underlying health conditions who kept a backyard poultry flock, received treatment in Thurston County before being hospitalized in King County, the Seattle Times reported.
How to clean a bird feeder
The county's step-by-step instructions:
- Clean feeders outside. Never clean them in a kitchen or anywhere food is prepared.
- Scrub with warm, soapy water to remove dirt.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Soak in a diluted bleach solution (nine parts water, one part bleach) for at least 10 minutes.
- Rinse again and let the feeder dry completely before refilling.
Wash hands with soap and water after touching any feeder or birdbath.
If you find a sick or dead bird
Remove all bird feeders and birdbaths from the yard for two weeks. That pause helps slow the spread among the local bird population.
If the bird is dead, the county advises wearing gloves, a mask and eye protection when handling it. Double-bag the bird and place it in an outdoor trashcan with a secured lid.
Residents can report sick or dead wild birds to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife through the agency's website.
Thurston County Public Health & Social Services can be reached at (844) 628-7343.
