Old North News

A backyard flock in Dare County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI), as confirmed by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh. The flock has been depopulated to prevent further spread of the disease.

This marks the first confirmed case in Dare County, following previous detections in January at two commercial turkey operations in Sampson County and a layer operation in Hyde County. Dr. Mike Martin, state veterinarian, noted that "it is likely that HPAI remains in our resident wild bird population and in migratory waterfowl, so reports of positive backyard flocks will likely happen on occasion." He urged both commercial and backyard flock owners to adhere to strict biosecurity measures and to report any sudden higher-than-normal mortality rates to local veterinarians or the N.C. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division at 919-707-3250.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control considers this type of HPAI virus a low risk to humans but notes it is highly contagious among birds, including both commercial and backyard poultry flocks. The virus does not pose a food safety threat as infected birds do not enter the food supply.

Further information on biosecurity measures and signs of HPAI can be found at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/AvianInfluenza. For questions regarding migratory birds, hunting, or dead wild waterfowl found on properties, visit the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s website at www.ncwildlife.org.