BISMARCK — As 2024 nears an end, North Dakota is announcing the first reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state this year.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has recently received confirmation of the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in three sites: a backyard chicken flock in McHenry County on Nov. 22, a commercial turkey flock in Ransom County on Nov. 27 and a backyard mixed flock in Bottineau County on Dec. 2. All results were confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, according to a news release from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

The State Board of Animal Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are working closely with USDA-APHIS, other state agencies, and local officials in the response. All required premises have been quarantined, and flocks have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. The USDA reports that 55,310 birds were affected in this outbreak.

The detection triggers the suspension of commingling poultry/bird events in McHenry, Ransom and Bottineau counties and birds from those counties. If no new cases emerge in 30 days, the suspension will be automatically lifted for the counties.

There is no immediate public health concern due to this finding. The risk to people from HPAI is low despite the disease often being fatal for birds. No human infections with these viruses have been detected in the U.S.

“Remember to restrict access to property, keep wild birds away from other birds and practice enhanced biosecurity,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress. “Birds should be kept indoors, especially during the spring and fall migration.”

Avian influenza has seen less movement in North Dakota this year compared to 2023, when 10 sites in six counties confirmed the disease.

“While the incidence of avian influenza has been on the decline in wild birds, these birds continue to be a source of disease to our domestic birds,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.

Avian influenza exists in many wild birds and can be transmitted by contact with infected birds or ingestion of infected food and water. Since the start of the outbreak in February 2022, 112.35 million birds have been affected. HPAI has been detected in a total of 1,257 flocks in 49 states. Of those, 555 flocks have been commercial and 702 flocks have been backyard.

More information about avian influenza is available at

www.ndda.nd.gov/avian-influenza

and from the USDA-APHIS at

www.aphis.usda.gov

. Any future detections of HPAI in North Dakota will be posted on

www.ndda.nd.gov/hpai

.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and immediately report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials, either through the state veterinarian at 701-328-2655 or your private veterinarian. 

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