{"id":29620,"date":"2026-02-26T16:39:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=29620"},"modified":"2026-02-26T16:39:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:39:02","slug":"news-release-preliminary-testing-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-in-caroline-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2026\/02\/26\/news-release-preliminary-testing-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-in-caroline-county\/","title":{"rendered":"NEWS RELEASE: Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Caroline County"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 14pt\">Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 14pt\">in Caroline County<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\"><strong>ANNAPOLIS, MD\u00a0 (February 26, 2026)<\/strong>\u2014 \u00a0The <strong>Maryland Department of Agriculture<\/strong> has announced a presumptive positive case of H5 Avian Influenza on a commercial broiler farm in Caroline County. This is the third case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm in Caroline County this year and the fourth case in Maryland in 2026. State officials have quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the property are being or have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the infected flock will not enter the food system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory is pending, with final results anticipated in the coming days.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Avian Influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus affects poultry, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, along with some wild bird species, such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">According to the Maryland Department of Health, the risk of transmission between birds and the general public is low. Those who work directly with poultry or dairy farms may be more at risk and should follow key biosecurity practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">The Maryland Department of Agriculture continues to urge growers and backyard flock owners to implement enhanced biosecurity practices and become familiar with what to do if HPAI is suspected in a flock. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/bird-flu\/prevention\/worker-protection-ppe.html\">guidance here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Look for signs of illness.\u00a0Know the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aphis.usda.gov\/livestock-poultry-disease\/avian\/defend-the-flock\/signs-illness\">warning signs<\/a>\u00a0of infectious bird diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Report suspected sick birds:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">To report a possible case of HPAI in a commercial or backyard flock, call the Maryland\u00a0Department of Agriculture at\u00a0410-841-5810.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Commercial chicken growers and backyard flock owners can email questions about the outbreak to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:MD.Birdflu@maryland.gov\">MD.Birdflu@maryland.gov<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">To report a sick wild bird in Maryland, call the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Services hotline at (877) 463-6497 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Key biosecurity practices:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Clean and disinfect transportation. Don\u2019t walk through or drive trucks, tractors, or equipment in areas where waterfowl or other wildlife feces may be. If you can\u2019t avoid this, clean your shoes, vehicle, and equipment thoroughly to prevent bringing disease agents back to your flock. This is especially important when visiting with farmers or those who hunt wildfowl, such as when gathering at a local coffee shop, restaurant, or gas station.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Remove loose feed. Don\u2019t give wild birds, rodents, and insects a free lunch. Remove spilled or uneaten feed right away, and make sure feed storage units are secure and free of holes. Wild birds can carry HPAI.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Keep visitors to a minimum.\u00a0Only allow those people who take care of your poultry to come in contact with your birds,\u00a0 including family and friends. Make sure everyone who has contact with your flock follows biosecurity principles.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Wash your hands before and after coming in contact with live poultry.\u00a0Wash with soap and water.\u00a0If using a hand sanitizer, first remove manure, feathers, and other materials from your hands because disinfectants will not penetrate organic matter or caked-on dirt.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) and\/or disinfectant footbaths for anyone having contact with your flock.\u00a0If using a footbath, be sure to remove all droppings, mud, or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled scrub brush BEFORE stepping into the disinfectant footbath, and always keep it clean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property.<br \/>\nVisitors should wear protective outer garments or disposable coveralls, boots, and headgear when handling birds, and shower and\/or change clothes when leaving the facility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Clean and disinfect tools or equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility.\u00a0Before allowing vehicles, trucks, tractors, or tools and equipment &#8211; including egg flats and cases that have come in contact with birds or their droppings &#8211; to exit the property, make sure they are cleaned and disinfected to prevent contaminated equipment from transporting disease.\u00a0Do not move or reuse items that cannot be cleaned and disinfected, such as cardboard egg flats.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">For more information on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Maryland, please visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/mda.maryland.gov\/Pages\/AvianFlu.aspx\">https:\/\/mda.maryland.gov\/Pages\/AvianFlu.aspx<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">###<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Caroline County ANNAPOLIS, MD\u00a0 (February 26, 2026)\u2014 \u00a0The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced a presumptive positive case of H5 Avian Influenza on a commercial broiler farm in Caroline County. This is the third case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm in<a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2026\/02\/26\/news-release-preliminary-testing-confirms-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-in-caroline-county\/\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the Rest&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":251,"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":[911,403,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-flu","category-mda-newsroom","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\/29620","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\/251"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29620"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29621,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29620\/revisions\/29621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}