{"id":29462,"date":"2025-11-07T10:52:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T15:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=29462"},"modified":"2025-11-07T10:52:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T15:52:37","slug":"poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2025\/11\/07\/poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Poultry Farmers Urged to Practice Enhanced Biosecurity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"29271\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2025\/09\/15\/poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-4\/attachment\/mda-byf-avian-influenza-11-x-17-in-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?fit=1294%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1294,2000\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MDA BYF Avian Influenza (11 \u00d7 17 in) (3)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?fit=663%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-29271\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?resize=194%2C300\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?resize=194%2C300&amp;ssl=1 194w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?resize=663%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 663w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?resize=768%2C1187&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?resize=994%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 994w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/MDA-BYF-Avian-Influenza-11-%C3%97-17-in-3.png?w=1294&amp;ssl=1 1294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\"><strong>ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 7, 2025)<\/strong> \u2013 The <strong>Maryland Department of Agriculture <\/strong>continues to remind all poultry farmers, whether commercial or backyard, to review and implement enhanced biosecurity plans. This comes after the confirmation of several cases of HPAI in backyard flocks in the Mid Atlantic region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">\u201cWe know HPAI is here, these confirmations serve as that reminder,\u201d said <strong>Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks<\/strong>. \u201cFor all of our poultry farmers (commercial and backyard), biosecurity is more than a suggestion; it is, without a doubt, the most potent protection against HPAI. To protect our flocks, preserve our agricultural economy, and guarantee the continued well-being of Maryland&#8217;s poultry industry, proactive actions, strict guidelines, and steadfast adherence to best practices are crucial.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Migratory waterfowl moving through Maryland presents a heightened risk for HPAI, a devastating disease for poultry operations. HPAI is caused by an influenza type A virus, which can infect poultry (chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quails, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Commercial and backyard flock owners are urged to follow these guidelines to maintain a sanitary, biosecure premise:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Restrict access to poultry by posting \u201cRestricted Access\u201d signage, securing the area with a gate, or both.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Take steps to ensure that contaminated materials on the ground are not transported into the poultry growing house or area.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Provide the following items to anyone entering or leaving any area where poultry are kept:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Footbaths and foot mats with disinfectant;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Boot washing and disinfectant station;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Footwear change or foot covers;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">PPE &#8211; coveralls, hair nets, and masks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Cover and secure feed to prevent wild birds, rodents or other animals from accessing it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Cover and properly contain carcasses, used litter, or other disease-containing organic materials to prevent wild birds, rodents or other animals from accessing them and to keep them from being blown around by wind.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Allow MDA to enter the premises during normal working hours to inspect your biosecurity and sanitation practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Report any unusual bird deaths or sudden increases in very sick birds to the MDA Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810 or after-hours to 410-841-5971. Also contact the USDA at 866-536-7593.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">For more information on avian influenza, please visit the department\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/mda.maryland.gov\/Pages\/AvianFlu.aspx\">website<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\"># # #<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif\">Follow Maryland Department of Agriculture on Facebook <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/mdagdept\">@MdAgDept<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 7, 2025) \u2013 The Maryland Department of Agriculture continues to remind all poultry farmers, whether commercial or backyard, to review and implement enhanced biosecurity plans. This comes after the confirmation of several cases of HPAI in backyard flocks in the Mid Atlantic region.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe know HPAI is here, these confirmations serve as<a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2025\/11\/07\/poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-5\/\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the Rest&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":222,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29462"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29463,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29462\/revisions\/29463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}