ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 2, 2025)- The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced the first presumptive positive case of H5 avian influenza in a commercial broiler farm in Worcester County. This is the fifth case of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and sixth in the state following the announcement of a confirmed case in a backyard flock in Montgomery County.

In total, there are now eight commercial operations in the Delmarva region confirmed to have HPAI, including two premises in Kent County, Delaware, and one premises in Accomack County, Virginia.

State officials have quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the properties are being or have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from affected flocks will not enter the food system.

Confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory is pending with final results anticipated in the coming days.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus affects poultry, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, along with some wild bird species such as geese, shorebirds, and raptors.

According to the Maryland Department of Health, the risk of transmission between birds and the general public is low. Those who work directly with poultry or dairy farms may be more at risk and should follow key biosecurity practices.