Birds in Frozen Waters: Should We Help Them or Not When They Look Trapped?
Indian Defence Review • • health
Key Points:
- A severe cold snap in central Europe has intensified the impact of the endemic H5N1 avian influenza virus on wild waterfowl, particularly swans, with freezing temperatures stabilizing the virus and increasing bird mortality.
- Birds appearing immobile on ice are often conserving energy through physiological adaptations rather than being trapped or frozen alive; true freezing typically occurs post mortem after disease or injury weakens the bird.
- Feeding waterfowl, a common public practice, now poses a significant health risk by causing birds to congregate closely, facilitating viral transmission through respiratory droplets and fecal contamination, leading to prohibitions on such feeding in places like Berlin.
- Public health guidance advises against approaching or handling sick or dead birds due to zoonotic risks and
