Despite the detection of avian influenza in Sussex County snow geese and Kent County broiler chickens, the Delaware Department of Agriculture says you can continue filling your bird feeders – unless you also keep chickens or live near some.

Anyone who owns poultry, including backyard flocks, should remove their birdhouses, feeders and baths, Delaware Department of Agriculture spokesperson Stacey Hofmann said. People who live near poultry should do the same to reduce the risk of the virus spreading from wild to domesticated birds.

The general public, however, can continue using bird feeders, Hofmann said. Delaware bird feeders typically attract cardinals, chickadees, titmice and other songbirds, while bird flu is usually found in waterfowl, raptors and vultures.

The department’s advice comes after the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was found in sick and dead snow geese at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge last week, marking the first detection of H5N1 on Delmarva since May 2022. On Thursday, the department announced presumptive positive testing in a Kent County poultry flock.

How to prevent the spread

Regardless of the prevalence of bird flu, backyard birders can prevent the spread of all bird illnesses by following a few simple steps, according to various agencies.

• Clean bird feeders once a month with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach. For wooden bird feeders, use regular soap or a solution of three parts water to one part vinegar.
• Change bird bath water every two or three days.
• Never touch wild birds and always wash your hands after handling bird feeders and baths.

If you find a dead bird, wear gloves, a mask and safety glasses to handle it, the Delaware Department of Agriculture recommends. Double-bag the bird and secure the bags with a zip tie before putting it in a trash can.

Background: Delaware officials urge vigilance as bird flu detected in Kent County poultry

If you see a sick or dead bird, call the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, report sick and dead birds here.

What to know about bird flu

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds through nasal and eye secretions and manure, Hofmann said.

The virus also has been detected in U.S. mammals, including foxes, wild and domestic cats, bears, seals, dolphins and cattle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture – but not in Delaware specifically.

Bird flu has occasionally infected humans, but continuous testing of people in close contact with infected animals indicates humans are at a low risk of contracting it, Hofmann said.

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Since April 2024, there have been a total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Delaware, one person has tested positive this year, with the source of exposure unknown.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.

This story is part of the WHYY News Climate Desk, bringing you news and solutions for our changing region.

From the Poconos to the Jersey Shore to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, what do you want to know about climate change? What would you like us to cover? Get in touch.

The sudden deaths of hundreds of commercial chickens on a farm in Kent County, Delaware were likely caused by the bird flu, according to the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

The birds tested positive for avian influenza at a University of Delaware lab. Samples were sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for further confirmation.

More than 120,000 chickens on the farm were impacted by the outbreak, according to the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The majority of those succumbed to the virus, while the remaining birds were euthanized to prevent the spread of disease, a spokesperson said.

The impacted area of the farm, which has not been named, has been quarantined.

The poultry industry is a major contributor to Delaware’s economy, with farms raising more than 200 million chickens a year. In 2022, Delaware’s chicken industry generated $5 billion in poultry sales.

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) can be very deadly to domestic poultry, so it is important to quickly stop the spread of the virus,” a spokesperson for the state said in an email.

“As a $5 billion industry, Delmarva has thousands of families that depend upon this business sector for their livelihoods. Strict biosecurity is essential to ensure the virus is not unknowingly transported from farm to farm.”

Rising concerns over bird flu

Avian influenza has been on the rise globally, including in the United States since 2020.

The bird flu is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can spread quickly among flocks of domestic and wild birds, and can also spread by infected equipment and clothing of caretakers.

Nearly 130 million chickens and other poultry have been impacted since the beginning of the current bird flu outbreak in 2022, driving egg prices to record highs. 

In recent weeks and months, there have been numerous reports of outbreaks among wild birds and farm animals from Michigan, to Texas to Missouri.

Last week, Delaware announced positive cases among snow geese found at Prime Hook Beach. The public has reported more than 850 wild bird deaths, though the causes have not been confirmed and officials don’t know how many reports are duplicates.

There’s also increased concerns about the spread of bird flu among cattle, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to test milk nationwide. Since March, there have been outbreaks among cattle in 16 states. States, including Delaware and Pennsylvania, have restricted the movement of dairy cattle and are testing their milk.

Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency after some of the state’s dairy cows contracted the disease.

On Thursday, the Biden administration set aside an additional $306 million to help combat bird flu. 

Delaware Marijuana Commissioner Rob Coupe will step down later this month as the industry continues its momentum toward opening.

Coupe was appointed by Gov. John Carney and confirmed by the state Senate to be the first commissioner after the use and sale of adult-use recreational marijuana was legalized in 2023. His last day will be Jan. 17, but he said he might use some vacation days before going back to construction as the chief of staff at CRx Construction in Rehoboth Beach.

A few days after Coupe leaves the office for good, Matt Meyer will be inaugurated as Delaware’s next governor.

Coupe was approaching his 40th year in public service. He has held leadership positions with the Delaware State Police, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department of Correction, the Department of Technology and Information and the Delaware Department of Justice.

“It seemed like a fitting time to go out,” he said.

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Now, the position is back in the hands of the governor. Carney is still in office, but Matt Meyer is set to take over later this month. Despite this, Coupe said Deputy Marijuana Commissioner Paul Hyland will stay in his role while continuing to lead the Office of the Marijuana toward its goal of opening retail locations in the spring.

Coupe said he is proud of how the office has handled the challenge of regulating and guiding the new industry.

“We’ve made a lot of progress,” he said. “It’s been a lot of great partnerships to pull this off.”

A few weeks ago, 15 people were awarded open retail licenses out of 529 eligible applicants. Licenses for open and social equity cultivators, manufacturers and testers have been awarded for every county in the state since October. The state’s medical marijuana dispensaries, which Coupe brought under the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, are also converting to adult-use recreational retail.

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In a statement, Carney thanked Coupe for his service in Delaware.

“As I’ve said before, there are few people across our state who are more well-respected and more committed to serving the people of Delaware, than Rob Coupe,” Carney said. “I knew he was the right person to take on the challenge of serving as Delaware’s first Marijuana Commissioner and he has proven his success leading that Office.”

Shane Brennan covers New Castle County with a focus on Newark and surrounding communities. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com. Follow @shanebrennan36 on X, formerly Twitter.

(This story was updated to add a photo gallery.)