Avian Flu Detected in Flock in Delaware County

DELAWARE COUNTY — Delaware County Public Health Services was notified of a positive flock of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as H5N1. The flock consists of 150 chickens, geese and ducks. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are also involved in the response. Both agencies are on site at the farm advising on depopulating, cleaning, and disinfection activities.

Contact with the flock was limited to the owner. To date, there have been no human cases of avian influenza and no detections in cattle in New York.

Individuals who do not come into direct contact with sick animals are considered at low risk for avian influenza. There are also no known cases involving domestic pets; however, it is advisable to keep pets away from dead birds or animals. National surveillance of milk is currently in place in multiple states including New York.

Since March 2024, the USDA has confirmed that cows on dairy farms in multiple states have tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza. The virus has been found in raw (unpasteurized) milk and secretions from the noses of cows on these farms.

This announcement prompts reminders for commercial and hobby poultry farmers to increase their biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the H5N1virus. To learn more about biosecurity measures, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/animals/poultry

Any birds demonstrating severe or unexplained illness or die-offs in backyard poultry should be reported to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502, or a local veterinarian.

Dead wild birds should be reported to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at this link: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/dee381c0ee8a4114a83dc1892fc0f7ed. More information on reporting dead wildlife from the DEC is available at: https://dec.ny.gov/nature/wildlife-health/reporting-dead-wildlife

Learn more about H5N1 bird flu at: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/avian/status.htm