Avian influenza, also known as “bird flu,” is a term for a group of influenza strains that occur naturally in wild aquatic birds and that may spread to other bird and animal species, including domestic poultry. It is a serious disease concern for poultry producers and animal health officials.
Wild aquatic birds are often infected with avian influenza A, but usually show no clinical signs of illness.
Influenza strains in birds, just as in people, vary considerably in severity. Some strains can be devastating to domestic poultry, particularly HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza).
Find more information about avian influenza in Delaware, including information for poultry producers and owners of backyard poultry flocks, on the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Delaware Avian Influenza Information Center.
On Dec. 27, 2024, Delaware collected snow geese potentially infected by avian influenza, announcing the next day that the geese were presumed positive. On Jan. 3, 2025, the Delaware Department of Agriculture announced its first presumptive positive H5 avian influenza case at a Kent County Farm. That finding was confirmed by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
Delaware, like other states, has experienced several avian influenza outbreaks in the past.
In 2004, Delaware had two farms affected with low pathogenic avian influenza.
In 2022, three commercial farms were affected at the beginning of the year, and two backyard flocks in early fall.
Avian influenza is considered “zoonotic,” which means that it can be spread from animals to humans. This can happen when the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth via inhalation or contact from the hands to the face.
Human cases are not common and typically come after a person has had unprotected contact with infected birds or surfaces.
Avian influenza is primarily found in waterfowl and spread through the saliva, mucus and feces of infected birds.
To minimize your risk:
Only harvest game animals that appear healthy.
Do not handle sick wildlife. Report them to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. If you see five or more sick or dead wild animals at the same location, please also call division staff at 302-735-3600 (Ext. 2).
Use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves and eye protection when handling and cleaning game, and field dress outdoors
Do not leave carcasses behind or allow pets to feed on them. Carcasses may be disposed in plastic bags in municipal trash.
Wash your hands thoroughly after handling game and disinfect equipment and surfaces that have been affected.
Do not eat, drink, or smoke when handling game.
Cook any game to a temperature of 165 degrees to kill the virus.
The recent outbreak will not affect the current seasons for geese or ducks.
Do not allow your pets to eat or come in contact with sick or dead birds or bird carcasses. If you think your pet has been exposed, call your veterinarian for further guidance.
If you have backyard chickens, please reach out to DDA for guidance.
Do not touch any sick wildlife. Report any sick or dead wild animals found in Delaware to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. Please note that during an active outbreak of avian influenza, staff and resources will be limited. Therefore, the Division will not respond to every report unless additional information is needed.
If you need to remove a carcass from your property, please follow these guidelines.
Use disposable or washable gloves (or, if unavailable, a plastic bag covering your hands) to pick up the carcass.
Place the carcass in a plastic bag, along with any disposable gloves or bags used for your hands. Then, place everything in a second plastic bag before disposing in commercial or residential trash.
Once the carcass has been disposed, immediately wash your hands (and any non-disposable gloves). You may also wish to disinfect the area where the carcass was found, if on a surface like a deck or driveway.
Related Topics: avian influenza, bird flu, fish and wildlife, Health and Safety, hunting, outdoors and recreation, poultry, wildfowl, wildlife
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