Bird Flu
Avian Influenza
Can Bird Flu Kill
As professionals on the front lines of health and biosecurity, pest control specialists are facing an evolving threat: the rapid rise of avian flu and its increasing ability to jump between species. A new global report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) paints a sobering picture that should be on every PMP's radar.
Mammalian Bird Flu Cases Doubled in One Year
According to WOAH, bird flu outbreaks in mammals jumped from 459 in 2023 to 1,022 in 2024 across 55 countries. Nearly half of these outbreaks involved diseases capable of infecting humans. That shift matters to pest control professionals who manage not only bird issues but also rodent, insect, and mammalian pests. We’re no longer just managing nuisance birds—now we’re helping mitigate potential zoonotic threats.
Climate, Trade, and Vaccination Gaps Fuel the Spread
The drivers of this increase are deeply interconnected:
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Climate change is expanding the migratory range of wild birds.
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International trade in animals is moving pathogens across borders.
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And critically, livestock vaccinations dropped 5% between 2020 and 2022.
This creates perfect storm conditions for avian flu—and raises the stakes for pest control operations tasked with containment and prevention.
Cross-Species Transmission Is No Longer Theoretical
More than 630 million birds have been culled globally over the past 20 years due to bird flu. But as the virus now jumps to cats, cattle, dogs, and even humans, the conversation shifts from poultry loss to public health risk.
And it’s not just bird flu. WOAH warns of the reemergence of livestock diseases like PPR (goat/sheep virus) in Europe, African swine fever in Sri Lanka, and New World screwworm in Mexico. As species barriers blur, the pest control industry must rethink its biosecurity playbook.
What This Means for PMPs
As the first responders to wildlife issues on commercial and agricultural sites, PMPs are critical in identifying early warning signs of infestation, disease vectors, and cross-species transmission.
Here’s how we can respond:
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Strengthen sanitation protocols near poultry, livestock, or wildlife contact zones.
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Monitor bird populations with greater scrutiny during migration seasons.
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Work with clients in agriculture to develop proactive bird control solutions.
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Encourage long-term deterrents like Avitrol to prevent congregation of birds near food sources and ventilation systems.
Avitrol Easy Blend
This product is labeled for Pigeons, House Sparrows, Starlings, Blackbirds, Cowbirds, and Grackles. With a permit in the US, it can also be used to treat Crows, Seagulls, Ravens, Magpies, and Vultures. This product is used to permanently discourage flocks of birds from gathering in unwanted places.
👉 Contact your distributor or visit Avitrol.com to learn more.
AMR and the Antibiotic Time Bomb
WOAH also flagged antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a growing crisis. Overuse of antibiotics in livestock is making pathogens tougher to treat—not just in animals, but humans, too. This could impact 2 billion people by 2050.
The best prevention? Reduce disease outbreaks through effective pest and wildlife management, and that starts with us.
Final Thoughts: Why Bird Control Has Never Been More Critical
Bird control isn’t just about property damage or nuisance management anymore. It’s about defending public health, food security, and preventing the next pandemic. With bird flu crossing species lines faster than ever, PMPs have a bigger role than they may realize.
Let’s not wait until containment becomes impossible. With the right tools, awareness, and partnerships, pest control specialists can be a powerful part of the global solution.
