HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For the first time ever, Hawaii’s Department of Health believes they’ve detected H5 Avian influenza from a wastewater site on Oahu. DOH did not immediately provide the location of the site.

Hawaii is the only US state that hasn't reported H5N1 avian flu in birds or animals. The state hasn't reported any recent detections in animals or people. Wastewater sampling can't determine if the virus is highly pathogenic or if the source was from an animal or a person.

The health department regularly samples wastewater as part of their efforts to detect infectious diseases. This surveillance was able to detect avian flu in the past week. The department is now investigating possible sources of the case.

The state has detected avian influenza in Oahu’s wastewater system and is advising Hawaii’s egg and poultry farmers to be on the lookout for telltale signs of the disease. Commonly known as bird flu,