ETIDIOH - NEW

DOVER, Del. (January 5, 2025)—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) has returned results from the Kent County, Del. poultry farm that was announced presumptive positive for H5 avian influenza on January 3, 2025. The poultry affected had highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI) of the Eurasian lineage 2.3.4.4b with early indications that the virus is the D1.1 genotype found in wild birds ; however, confirmation of the genotype is determined by sequencing. There is currently no timeline for the receipt of this data by the Delaware Department of Agriculture. All poultry farms in the state should be monitoring flocks for any signs of increased mortality. Producers should pay particular attention to whether birds show signs of respiratory illness or distress, such as sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, and/or runny nose. Other signs of HPAI in poultry can include swelling around the eyes, neck, and head; purple discoloration of the wattles, ...

{Excerpt} DOVER, Del. (January 3, 2025) – The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced this morning that preliminary testing of a commercial broiler flock in Kent County , Del., has returned presumptive positive H5 from 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. State officials have quarantined the affected premises , and the birds on the property are being depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the affected flock will not enter the food system. 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 ca...

 {Excerpt} DOVER, Del. (Dec. 28, 2024) – The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) announced today that laboratory testing conducted by the University of Delaware’s Allen Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, has returned presumptive positive findings of H5 avian influenza in sick and dead snow geese collected on December 27, 2024, in coastal Sussex County.   In response to the findings , the state of Delaware has established a Joint Information Center with DNREC, DDA, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA). The detections mark the Delmarva region’s most recent confirmation of H5 avian influenza in wild birds since May 2022, when the virus was found through wildlife surveillance in black vultures in Harford County, Md. Avian influenza is known to be carried by wild birds, especially waterfowl, raptors, and ...

{Excerpt} Three confirmed cases and one probable influenza A(H5) case were reported to CDC this week .  To date, human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) virus has not been identified in the United States . Two of these confirmed cases were reported by the California Department of Public Health. The cases occurred in a workers aged ≥18 years at a commercial dairy cattle farm in an area where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses had been detected in cows. The individuals had mild symptoms , which they reported to local health department officials. There have now been 34 total confirmed cases and one probable case in California. The other confirmed case was reported by the Louisiana Department of Health. This case occurred in an individual aged ≥18 years . This individual developed respiratory symptoms during week 48 and was hospitalized with their illness. A respiratory specimen was collected at the healthcare facility and tested positive for influenza A, b...