Avian Flu Detected in Poultry Across 7 US States

Birds fly along the coast of the Vadso Municipality in Finnmark following a bird flu outbreak in Norway, on July 20, 2023. Yvind Zahl Arntzen/NTD/AFP via Getty Images

Hundreds of thousands of birds across seven states were affected by bird flu outbreaks within their flocks recently, with authorities in Delaware warning people against coming into contact with sick birds.

Bird flu cases in poultry were reported this week from Arkansas, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Georgia, Oregon, and Virginia, according to data from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as of Jan. 23.

In Arkansas, an outbreak affecting 106,900 birds at a commercial broiler production facility in Cleveland County was confirmed on Wednesday. A smaller outbreak involving 500 birds was reported in Illinois.

In Maryland, two outbreaks were confirmed—in Dorchester and Caroline counties, both involving broiler facilities that affected more than 260,000 birds. In Missouri, about 1.32 million birds across three counties—Jasper, Lawrence, and Newton—were affected by outbreaks. The outbreak was found at egg layer and turkey meat facilities.

This week, outbreaks were also confirmed among 441,000 birds in Virginia, 130,400 in Georgia, and 50 in Oregon.

Over the past 30 days, infections have been confirmed in 98 flocks across the country, affecting 13.23 million birds. Ohio topped the list with 3.03 million birds impacted.

In Delaware, the Delmarva Avian Influenza Joint Information Center said on Wednesday that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and APHIS are working to collect dead and sick snow geese and other wild birds that may have been infected with avian flu.

The effort is expected to help the state track the infection. More than 319,000 birds have been confirmed affected by the flu in Delaware over the past 30 days.

“Sick or dead wild animals found in Delaware during the avian influenza outbreak or at any time of year, are to be reported to the DNREC Wildlife Section,” the center said. “State authorities also reiterated that the public should not pick up or handle any sick birds. Dead birds should not be picked up unless disposable plastic gloves are worn to handle them. This guidance also applies to waterfowl hunters.”

Avian flu has been found in several animals besides poultry this month. APHIS data show flu detections in domestic cats as well as in-house mice, deer mice, harbor seals, and mountain lions in January.

Human Infections

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 67 confirmed cases of avian flu in human beings in the United States as of Jan. 17.

California accounted for the bulk of infections, with 38 cases, followed by Washington with 11, Colorado with 10, and Michigan with two cases. Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin reported a single case each.

Out of the 67 cases, 40 were linked to exposure to dairy herds, while 23 were associated with poultry farms and culling operations.

“While CDC believes 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 appropriate protective measures in place, such as use of personal protective equipment,” the agency said.

This includes people working as farmers or handling infected animals or byproducts, animal care workers, backyard flock owners, hunters, and wild bird watchers.

Earlier this month, Louisiana confirmed the first incidence in the United States of a person infected with avian flu dying. The individual, hospitalized for several weeks, was over 65 years old and had underlying medical conditions.

Commenting on the death, a spokesperson from the World Health Organization said the risk to the general public remains low.

The CDC said last month that an analysis of genetic samples suggests the bird flu virus had mutated within the Louisiana patient.

“The changes observed were likely generated by replication of this virus in the patient with advanced disease rather than primarily transmitted at the time of infection,” the agency said. “The detection of a severe human case with genetic changes in a clinical specimen underscores the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance in people and animals, containment of avian influenza outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry, and prevention measures among people with exposure to infected animals or environments.”