HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii News Now has learned where the first cases of bird flu were confirmed in Hawaii.

The owner of a Wahiawa duck rescue tells us it was first discovered at her nonprofit, and she initially thought her animals had been poisoned.

The numbers of bird deaths caused by this one area are staggering. Twenty rescued waterfowl were found dead, along with thirteen wild zebra birds.

Then the state Agriculture Department decided to kill more than 70 birds on the Wahiawa property, leaving the duck rescue founder devastated.

More information: State confirms bird flu in flock of birds in Central Oahu

In an emotional post on Instagram, Susan Wilkinson, founder of Susie’s Duck Sanctuary, said Hawaii’s first detection of bird flu was discovered during her waterfowl rescue in a residential area in Wahiawa.

“It’s not a government conspiracy. It’s not a joke. It’s so bad. It’s so bad,” she said.

Wilkinson has not revealed her exact location but wants the public to take the deadly bird virus seriously. She says 20 of her rescued waterfowl, ducks, geese and a swan died quickly two weeks ago.

Some had no symptoms, while others were lethargic and had neurological problems.

“They had twitches in their heads and their necks twisted, very neurologically. There’s a whole range of symptoms that we couldn’t put it all together,” Wilkinson told Hawaii News Now.

“I had no idea. We thought it was poisoning,” she added.

More information: Chicken farmers, owners ‘terrified’ after first detection of bird flu in Hawaii

Wilkinson’s veterinarian contacted state officials who tested the dead birds and confirmed bird flu.

Dr. Isaac Maeda, the state veterinarian, says the Ministry of Agriculture has decided to euthanize more than 70 birds in the sanctuary to prevent the deadly bird virus from spreading.

“This decision was made due to the fact that this was the first detection we have had,” he said. “What we want to do is try to get rid of the viral load to prevent further spread.”

State health officials say some Wilkinson birds were at the Mililani Town Association pet fair on Nov. 2 but showed no signs of infection at the time.

Wilkinson says visitors haven’t touched her animals. Her property has been cleaned and disinfected, and it will be another 120 days before she can keep birds there again.

“As the birds showed no signs of infection at the time of the fair, the risk of H5N1 spreading to humans is low. However, out of an abundance of caution, DOH recommends that individuals who attended the fair and touched a duck or goose monitor for symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) and conjunctivitis (“pink eye”),” the Hawaii Department of Health said in a statement . a statement.

State agriculture officials say it’s possible Wilkinson’s birds became sick from the zebra pigeons, but how the wild birds got it is unclear since they don’t migrate from outside the island.

Officials are reminding people not to touch sick birds, don’t feed wild birds or let them mix with your feathered pets.

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