Maryland
Bird flu outbreak has reached Maryland: How concerned should we be?
The widening U.S. bird flu outbreak has made its way to Maryland, which has counted two cases on commercial poultry farms—one in Caroline County and another in Queen Anne’s County—since the start of the year.
Health experts say the general public is at little risk of exposure and illness, thus far. While human infections of this H5N1 avian influenza can be deadly, there have been no confirmed cases of human-to-human spread.
“The general public should have very little concern unless they’re involved in what we know are high-risk activities, one being working on poultry farms” and another being drinking raw, unpasteurized milk, said Andy Pekosz, an expert on respiratory viruses and emerging diseases at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
“On the flip side, biologists like myself are very concerned about the situation,” he said. “There have been way too many outbreaks in dairy cow farms. It’s spread across way too many states.”
As of this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counted 67 U.S. cases of bird flu infections in humans since 2024, none in Maryland. One person, a 65-year-old Louisiana man with underlying health conditions, died after he was likely exposed to the virus from wild birds and a non-commercial backyard flock, the Louisiana Department of Health reported earlier this month.
The CDC on Thursday also called on hospitals to test patients they believe may have the bird flu, particularly those in intensive care units.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced earlier this month that it has awarded $306 million to monitor this outbreak and prepare for more human infections. More than half of that will go to regional, state and local programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed 928 dairy herd infections in 16 states, mostly California. More than 12 million birds also have been affected in the last 30 days, including 54 commercial flocks and 55 backyard flocks, according to the USDA.
For now, Maryland’s dairy cows have not been affected, according to the state Department of Agriculture. Infected commercial chicken farms in the state have culled tens of thousands of infected chickens. They were likely infected by wild, migrating birds, said Jennifer Trout, the Maryland State Veterinarian.
No infected meat or eggs got into the food supply, Trout said.
“I don’t really have the ability to control Mother Nature in the flyway. But luckily for us, we’ve got a really good (disease monitoring) system in place,” she said. “These animals are tested through routine surveillance, pre-harvesting testing.”
How dangerous is the bird flu?
Earlier avian flu outbreaks have proven especially deadly for humans, causing roughly half of the infected to die. This current version of avian flu seems to be less dangerous, causing mild respiratory illness and conjunctivitis, better known as pink eye, according to the CDC.
Other symptoms include coughing, fever, muscle aches and fatigue. Symptoms usually last up to two weeks. More severe cases can cause pneumonia, organ damage, septic shock and death. It’s not clear how long people are contagious, but scientists believe it’s similar to regular, seasonal influenza, according to the CDC.
“To date, there has been only one death in the entire U.S. due to avian flu. For comparison of risk, there are likely to be at least 10,000 deaths due to seasonal influenza in the US this year,” said Dr. George Rust with the Florida State University College of Medicine.
“CDC data show that in Maryland, there have been 141 deaths due to COVID-19 in the past three months.” (The state of Maryland reported 186 COVID-19 deaths between Oct. 14 and Jan. 14, the most current data available.)
Antiviral drugs are the recommended treatment for anyone testing positive for the bird flu.
What’s different about this outbreak?
Human infection by the H5N1 avian flu first emerged a generation ago, though other strains of bird-infecting flu have been recorded for about 150 years. Public health experts say this outbreak is different in that it’s spreading quickly among mammals, which are genetically more similar to humans than birds.
That, they say, could eventually lead to a mutated strain that would allow avian flu to spread among humans. Someone could also be infected by the normal flu and the bird flu at the same time, allowing H5N1 to “swap genes” and create a mutation leading to human-to-human transmission. That would become the next pandemic.
“Should the bird flu virus pick up the capacity to readily infect people, then I’m afraid we would have, once again, a large pandemic with much illness, infections of people who are older and frail and immunocompromised and the very young,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University and one of the nation’s leading experts in infectious diseases.
“That would be followed by a substantial number of deaths but unlikely to be at the 50% level. It would be more like what we see with seasonal flu.”
House pets can get sick or die if they eat a dead or infected bird or drink unpasteurized milk.
How safe is the food supply?
Aside from widespread testing on farms, cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees kills all bacteria and viruses, including the bird flu. The same applies to cooking ground beef to 160 degrees and whole cuts of beef to 145 degrees, according to the CDC.
There are no known cases of people in the United States getting avian flu from eating properly cooked and handled food. Though some cases have emerged in Southeast Asia, likely because of exposure to poultry blood, according to the World Health Organization.
Similarly, pasteurization makes drinking milk safe.
“Pasteurization protects the milk supply from viral contamination, as well as from many other infectious diseases,” said Rust, the FSU College of Medicine professor. “H5N1 virus has been found in high concentrations in milk from infected dairy cattle, so consuming raw milk, or unpasteurized cheese or yogurt, creates unnecessary risk.”
Are there vaccines and treatments?
The United States has stores of vaccines against an earlier variant of the bird flu and is now making more that should be even more effective against the variants currently circulating, Schaffner said. Studies are also underway to develop vaccines that would work in dairy cows, he said.
Seasonal flu vaccines alone are not effective against bird flu, according to the CDC.
“The government is stockpiling millions of doses of a vaccine for avian flu and is funding the development of new mRNA vaccines as well,” Rust said. “We need to maintain a robust public health infrastructure to prevent such outbreaks rather than gearing up after a pandemic has begun.”
2025 Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice is suing Maryland and State Attorney General Anthony Brown, alleging the state’s “sanctuary” policies hinder the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The lawsuit claims that Maryland’s sanctuary policies are illegal under federal law and that the state’s “refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities” has had negative consequences for immigration law enforcement officials.
What we know:
According to the lawsuit, the state’s refusal to cooperate has led to facilities refusing to help transfer immigrants to federal custody.
Under the direction of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the DOJ’s Civil Division will identify state and local laws, policies and practices that violate federal laws or impede federal operations.
“When sanctuary jurisdictions enact laws to shield [undocumented immigrants] from federal law enforcement, it is not merely federal law that is violated, but the voices of everyday American voters silenced,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward.
The lawsuit cites Maryland’s Community Trust Act, a law that went into effect in May, which prevents local law enforcement from holding an individual without a warrant on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There is an exception for those who commit felonies or sex offenses.
What they’re saying:
The Community Trust Act law sparked pushback from local law enforcement leaders across the state, with 17 of Maryland’s 24 sheriffs suing, and saying the law “undermines public safety and restricts cooperation” between local and federal officials.
“Such blatant disregard for federal laws that have been on the books for decades is not merely a political disagreement or passive abstention; it is deliberate, disruptive action that jeopardizes the public safety for all Americans,” the DOJ lawsuit reads. “The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits a state from obstructing Congress and the Executive in this manner.”
The Source: This information is from a Department of Justice lawsuit.
GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WBFF) — An office building in Glen Burnie was evacuated on Thursday afternoon after its underground parking garage experienced a shift in one of its floors.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department initially responded to the 7300 block of Ritchie Highway around 2:30 p.m. on July 9 after reports of a partial building collapse.
However, the department later clarified that there has been no collapse of the 10-story building.
Officials said crews are evaluating the building’s structural integrity after work was being performed in the parking garage.
All occupants were safely evacuated, and no injuries have been reported, according to Fire Captain Jenny Macallair.
The fire department is asking drivers to avoid the area while crews continue their assessment.
FOX45 News has a crew on the way to the scene, and we will provide updates as they become available.
See America’s most iconic hot dogs
Welcome to the United States of Hot Dogs! We’ve compiled a few of the best hot dogs eaten across the country.
Although Maryland is often celebrated for its seafood, one over-the-top creation has carved out its own loyal following among locals and visitors alike: The Baltimore-style hot dog.
Sausage is merely its first layer of meat. It’s wrapped in a thick slice of fried beef bologna and piled high with toppings.
It’s proof that while hot dogs are truly an All-American food, their real power lies in how they adapt to local tastes.
Hot dogs were “invented” in the U.S. after German sausages were served in buns. They’re a staple of baseball games — the all-American pastime. And they are truly a democratic food: nearly anyone can afford to enjoy them.
But even more, hot dogs are American because of their adaptability, reflecting the ingenuity and diversity that gives our country such a rich culinary tapestry.
“You can tell the story of America through hot dogs. There are probably other things you could use, other objects or icons, but I think hot dog is a really good one,” said Bruce Kraig, a Ph.D. food historian and author of “Hot Dog: A Global History’ and ‘Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America.”
Regional hot dog toppings, from chili in Cincinnati to celery salt in Chicago to jalapeños in the Southwest, tell distinct stories of place.
Here in Baltimore, Maryland, our contribution to the United States of Hot Dogs is the Baltimore-style hot dog.
What is a Baltimore-style hot dog?
At its core, the Baltimore dog is a meat-on-meat masterpiece. It starts with a kosher all-beef sausage that is split, fried and wrapped alongside thick, charred bologna slices.
It’s traditionally topped with raw onions and yellow mustard, with a pickle spear on top or on the side. Some variations include the addition of sweet relish, ketchup or cheese.
“In this creation, grease from the bologna mixes with the grease from the hot dog, and both find their way into the bread to form an unforgettable aroma, taste and aftertaste — and 200 points on your cholesterol count,” Baltimore historian Gilbert Sandler told The Baltimore Sun in a 2019 story.
Where did the Baltimore-style hot dog come from?
Its origins are often somewhat unclear, but it’s believed to have originated during the Great Depression when, according to TasteAtlas.com, “people added bologna slices to the hot dog in order to make it a fuller, heartier meal.”
Jewish delis along Baltimore’s historic “Corned Beef Row” were looking for ways to offer working-class customers a filling, calorie-dense meal for a small chunk of change, leading to the birth of the Baltimore-style hot dog.
First becoming popular in the early 1940s at Mandell and Ballow deli, the bologna-wrapped hot dog spread throughout Baltimore, The Sun reported.
“Despite being a nutritionally questionable combo of two of the world’s least-healthful meats, the bologna dog continues to be a local favorite, enjoyed without apology,” FoodRepublic.com wrote in 2023.
Four best places to try a Baltimore-style hot dog
Attman’s Delicatessen: A Baltimore institution since 1915, Attman’s version of the Baltimore-style hot dog sits at the top of its menu. Its dog — for $7.99 — comes with your choice of mustard, relish, chopped onions and ketchup. Details: 1019 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-563-2666, attmansdeli.com.
Weiss Deli: Another Baltimore staple, Weiss serves speciality sandwiches and, of course, the Baltimore-style hot dog. You can customize the $7.49 dog with up to eight toppings, but its most popular version comes with just deli mustard and raw onions on top of the bologna-wrapped sausage. Details: 1127 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-276-7910, baltimoreweissdeli.com
The Dog House Carryout: A legendary landmark in Baltimore, The Dog House Carryout has been slinging its classic comfort food for more than 75 years. You can get a quarter-pound all-beef hot dog for $6.95, with bologna added for an extra $1.25. The dog comes with your choice of mustard, relish, onions and ketchup. Details: 617 Fallsway, Baltimore; 410-685-7269, thedoghousebaltimore.com
Killa Dogz: Killa Dogz, one of the more modern hot dog spots in the city, offers a wide variety of options, including what it calls the “Bmore” dog. At $7, its version is deep fried, wrapped in bologna and “served on a squishy bun with mustard.” Chili and cheese are among the top ways to customize its dog. Details: 6106 Belair Rd, Baltimore; 443-438-7822. killadogz.com.
Jennifer Borresen contributed the interactive graphic to this story. She is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in various fields, including politics, science, weather and entertainment.
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