The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said it is monitoring bird and wildlife populations for signs of avian influenza. Nene are often seen on the ground near roadways in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) has detected H5 avian influenza (bird flu) in a wastewater sample from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaii Island. The sample was collected on Dec. 2 and marks the first detection of the virus on a neighbor island.

H5 avian influenza, or bird flu, was detected in a sample collected from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Dec. 2.

The Hawaii Department of Health today said the H5 avian influenza virus has been detected in a wastewater sample collected from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaii island.

Bird flu has made its way to Hawai‘i Island. Hawaiʻi County and Hawai’i Department of Health reported late Tuesday afternoon that H5 avian influenza was detected in influent collected Dec. 2 from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant.