Health & Fitness
Bird Flu Detected In Backyard Flock In Anne Arundel County
Bird flu was detected in a backyard flock in Anne Arundel County amid a nationwide outbreak. This was the county's first case in 2.5 years.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Bird flu was detected in a backyard flock in Anne Arundel County, officials announced Wednesday.
The ongoing bird flu outbreak has claimed over 166 million birds nationwide since January 2022, driving up egg prices amid the ensuing chicken shortage.
This is the seventh case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) that the Maryland Department of Agriculture has detected this year. It's the 14th case since the outbreak began in 2022, and it's Anne Arundel County's first case since September 2022.
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The MDA confirmed that none of the birds in the flock will enter the food system.
The entire backyard flock must be depopulated, or euthanized, because the disease is highly contagious.
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The property is also under quarantine to limit further spread.
The bird flu outbreak claimed at least five Maryland flocks in 2022. There was one case each in 2023 and 2024.
The spread resumed this year, hitting five meat production operations and another two flocks kept for personal use.
This year's outbreak has also struck Caroline, Queen Anne's, Dorchester, Montgomery and Worcester Counties.
Humans have a low risk of catching bird flu, though poultry and dairy farmers may be at more risk and should follow biosecurity practices.
The risk of animal-to-animal transmission is far higher.
"Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure," the MDA said in a press release. "The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus affects chickens, ducks, and turkeys, along with some wild bird species such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors."
Backyard flock owners are required to register with the MDA to aid in disease tracking.
More information on registration and biosecurity measures is available here.
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