Quarry Pond Geese Test Positive for Bird Flu
The Pennsylvania Game Commission said dead geese found near Quarry Pond have tested positive bird flu. Signs like this one were placed around Quarry Pond by Campus Safety warning students not to approach birds. (Vincent DiFonzo/The Gettysburgian)
By Brandon Fey, News Editor
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has reported that the geese carcasses discovered at Quarry Pond tested positive for the bird flu (H5N1). This contributes to a recent trend in which cases of the virus have been confirmed nationwide.
This was announced via a campus-wide email by Executive Director of Campus Safety Alex Wiltz on Sunday. This message was an update to his previous email on Jan. 18, in which he announced that several dead geese were found at the pond, and were to undergo testing for the virus.
The Game Commission is currently working to remove the remaining carcasses from the area as permitted by the ice.
Wiltz also mentioned that the College’s medical director through WellSpan stated that bird flu poses a “very low” public health risk, as no human cases have been reported in Pennsylvania and no person-to-person transmission has been detected.
He added that the Infection and Control Prevention team at WellSpan is “closely monitoring” the virus and will continue to provide updated information on the situation.
Wiltz requested that campus community members continue to stay away from Quarry Pond at this time.
