Bird flu has been detected at three poultry operations in Maryland and Delaware, causing concern in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The number of bird flu outbreaks across the country has been on the rise.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture officials announced on Friday that they have detected the H5N1 strain of avian influenza at a chicken operation in Caroline County. This is the first reported case of H5N1 at a Maryland poultry farm since 2023. Caroline County is located just over 70 miles from Washington, D.C.
Two commercial farms in Delaware have reported positive bird flu cases, leading to the recent discovery.
“Given that it’s the season, everyone is already on high alert,” stated Maryland state veterinarian Jennifer Trout on Friday. She further added, “We’ve observed outbreaks among wild birds and confirmed positive cases in Delaware, and now we have come across another one in Maryland.”
Although the strain has been discovered in wild birds in the Washington, D.C., area, there have been no reported cases of bird flu in humans.
“We are now taking even more stringent measures to ensure safety,” stated Trout. She highlighted that the Caroline County farm had to euthanize approximately 250,000 birds in order to prevent the further spread of the virus.
The poultry industry thrives in the region, providing employment to approximately 19,000 individuals and contributing to an annual revenue of around $4.4 billion. These figures are based on data provided by the Delmarva Chicken Association, which represents the majority of Delaware and the eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia.
“The detections in our region should be very concerning to commercial and backyard flock owners,” Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said in a statement on Thursday. “MDA is monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to provide updates as they become available.”
Virginia officials are closely monitoring the situation and have not detected any cases of bird flu in domestic animals or humans.
“We are staying as prepared as we can be,” said Elena Diskin, an epidemiology program manager at the Virginia Department of Health. “We’re watching the national situation and working with our animal health partners to monitor animals’ health and coordinate resources.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there have been 66 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans since April 2024. Additionally, bird flu has impacted approximately 134 million wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks in all 50 states since 2022.