ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
UPDATE
An additional commercial broiler flock in Kent County within the initial control area of the positive farm announced on January 3, 2024, has tested presumptive positive for H5 avian influenza at the University of Delaware’s Lasher Laboratory in Georgetown, 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 Delaware 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 Delaware will be posted at https://de.gov/poultry. Situation updates will be issued in the event of new cases in Kent County, Delaware, and posted on the website.
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. Delaware has previously announced presumptive positive H5 test results in snow geese, and along with these two cases in commercial poultry, all poultry owners need to increase their vigilance in protecting their flocks.
On January 7, 2025, the Delaware Department of Agriculture issued Heightened Biosecurity Protocols Involving Delaware Poultry Farms.
On January 8, 2025, the Delaware Department of Agriculture issued a Control Order Requiring Specific Handling, Transport, and Storage of Poultry Litter Due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
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.
- Delaware backyard flock owners who notice any of the signs of HPAI in their flock should email the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at poultry.health@delaware.gov or call 302-698-4507 and 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 H5N1 virus has infected a small number of people across the U.S. To date, there has been no documented transmission between people in the U.S. While continuing testing of people in close contact with animals infected with HPAI indicates a low risk to the general public’s health, backyard flock owners should keep birds in outdoor coops and not bring birds that have been living outside into the home. Children and pets should be kept away from wild birds and bird droppings.
If anyone in contact with poultry begins to experience flu-like symptoms, please contact 888-295-5156 (after hours) or 302-744-4990 (business hours) for a referral to a DPH clinic to obtain a flu swab. Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea. If symptoms seem severe, including trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, dizziness/confusion, severe muscle pain, seizure, severe weakness or unsteadiness, worsening of chronic medical conditions, or fever or cough that begin to improve and then worsen or return, please dial 911 or visit the emergency department. Let the hospital staff and providers know if you have been exposed to poultry or wild birds.
MEDIA NOTE
All media inquiries should be directed to the Delaware Avian Influenza Joint Information Center at JIC@delaware.gov.
Due to biosecurity concerns, no on-site interviews, photos, or videos are allowed. For more information on avian influenza, visit https://de.gov/poultry.
