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OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. -- The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed another outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Ottawa County. This marks the third case detected in the county in the past four weeks, and the tenth since the virus was first identified in Michigan in 2022.
The recent case was identified by Michigan State University veterinary researchers during an MDARD investigation. The avian influenza virus is highly contagious and can spread rapidly from flock to flock through wild birds, infected poultry, contaminated equipment, or even on the clothing and shoes of farmers. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture mandates that farms with an infected bird must depopulate their entire flock to prevent further spread. State officials are urging those who have contact with sick or dead birds to monitor for symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, and muscle aches, although human cases of bird flu are rare.
MDARD has provided guidelines to help prevent the spread of bird flu. Caretakers of domestic birds are advised to report any suspected cases of avian influenza to MDARD immediately. Additionally, unusual or unexplained deaths among wild bird populations should be reported to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
For more information on how to protect flocks and prevent the spread of avian influenza, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website.