Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Second Caroline County Farm

HPAI SITUATION UPDATE: January 15, 2025

An additional commercial broiler flock in Caroline County, MD within the initial control area of the first Caroline County positive farm announced on January 10, 2025, has tested presumptive positive for H5 avian influenza at the Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. Additional samples have been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for further confirmation.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has quarantined the affected premises, and the birds on the property are being depopulated to prevent the spread of disease. Birds from the affected flock will not enter the food system.

All announcements and pertinent information regarding the HPAI situation in Maryland will be posted at www.mda.maryland.gov/avianflu. Situation updates will be issued in the event of new cases in Caroline County, MD.

BACKGROUND

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds through nasal and eye secretions and manure. The virus can be spread from flock to flock, including flocks of wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, equipment, and the clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus affects poultry, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, and some wild bird species, such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors. 

As Maryland has previously announced presumptive positive H5 test results in snow geese, and along with two additional commercial poultry cases, the Maryland Department of Agriculture continues to urge all poultry owners to increase their vigilance in protecting their flocks.

IF YOU HAVE SICK POULTRY OR EXPERIENCE INCREASED MORTALITY

• Commercial poultry producers should follow the protocol of notifying the company they grow for when they notice signs of disease.
• Maryland backyard flock owners who notice any of the signs of HPAI in their flock should email the email the Maryland Department of Agriculture Animal Health team at md.birdflu@maryland.gov or animalhealth.mda@maryland.gov or by calling 410-841-5810.  Please be prepared to provide your contact information, size of flock, location, and concerns. Do not take dead or sick birds to a lab to be tested to move them off-site.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to assess that the current H5N1 bird flu risk to the general public remains low. People with job- or recreation-related exposures to infected animals are at increased risk, especially when those exposures happen without the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Additional information for workers exposed to H5N1 bird flu is available here.

MEDIA NOTE

Due to biosecurity concerns, no on-site interviews, photos, or video are allowed. For all media requests, email: JIC@delaware.gov.

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