CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Flock of backyard birds in Durham tests positive for avian flu as cases near US record

News & Observer - 11/24/2022

A strain of the highly contagious avian flu has been found in Wake, Union and, most recently, Durham County this fall.

On Wednesday, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that a backyard flock in Durham County had tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu.

This flock is one of several in the Triangle and surrounding counties to show signs of bird flu this year. Avian flu has been found in nine poultry farms in Johnston and Wayne counties.

Avian flu is highly contagious in birds and can be deadly to chickens, ducks, turkeys and other domestic fowl.

“The threat of high path avian influenza is nationwide and likely will remain through the fall and winter,” State Veterinarian Mike Martin said. “Commercial operations and backyard flock owners should continue to follow strict biosecurity measures including keeping birds enclosed without access to wild birds or other domestic flocks when possible.”

However, this flu is “considered low-risk to people” according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is also not a danger to the food supply, according to a statement from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Although the appearance of avian flu in Durham County is concerning, Martin said it is not shocking.

“We have had evidence that the HPAI virus has remained in our resident wild bird population and in migratory waterfowl, so reports of backyard positive flocks are unfortunate, but not surprising,” he said.

Bird owners are asked to pay extra attention to their flocks and report any signs of avian flu to the NC Department of Agriculture. and Consumer Services at 919-707-3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System at 919-733-3986..

Approaching U.S. record

The United States is approaching a record number of avian flu cases, according to the CDC. Since early 2022, more than 49 million birds in 46 states have either died of bird flu or been killed due to exposure to infected birds, the agency reported Nov. 3.

According to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, these are the warning signs of avian flu:

©2022 Raleigh News & Observer. Visit newsobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.