There have been more than 125 million cases of bird flu detected in the U.S. in wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks since January 2022.
Poultry from a chicken breeder in Mississippi has tested positive for bird flu, according to state officials.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory notified the Mississippi Board of Animal Health (MBAH) that poultry from a commercial breeder in southeast Mississippi tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu after samples were sent to a federal lab, according to an MBAH
statement issued on Monday.
The MBAH said the birds were “depopulated to prevent the spread” and that the area was quarantined.
The affected poultry wasn’t circulated into the food system, the MBAH said, and there’s no risk to food safely from bird flu when chicken and eggs are “handled and cooked properly.”
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bird flu has been detected in poultry, dairy cows, milk, and dairy and poultry staff, and the public health risk is low.
The CDC has reported that more than 125 million cases of bird flu have been detected in wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks since January 2022.
On Dec. 18, the CDC said a Louisiana person became the first of the 61 reported human cases since April to be hospitalized for a severe case of bird flu.
The infection was traced back to exposure to sick or dead birds in a backyard flock, the CDC
reported, which showed that “in addition to affected commercial poultry and dairy operations, wild birds and backyard flock can be a source of exposure.”
Thirty-four of those cases of bird flu in humans were reported in California.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
declared a state of emergency over bird flu on Dec. 18 in response to an increase in cases in dairy cows in southern California.
Newsom said his intent in the proclamation was to free up government resources for rapid response.
“Building on California’s testing and monitoring system—the largest in the nation—we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information,” Newsom
said.
Bird flu was first detected in wild bird populations in South Carolina and California in 2022 and first reported in dairy cows in March 2024 in Texas and Kansas, the governor’s statement reported.
In August 2024, bird flu was detected in dairy cows in central California, prompting state public health officials to take action.
“While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of the virus,” Newsom said.
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
