Bird flu hits Delaware and Maryland, officials urging farmers to be vigilant

DELMARVA – A warning for poultry farmers, high path avian influenza, or the bird flu, has hit Delaware and Maryland.

Officials urge you to be on the lookout for any unusual deaths or sick birds as the bird flu has already hit commercial poultry operations in those states.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has also identified bird flu in snow geese in Dorchester, Worcester and Sussex Counties which is concerning as it could easily spread from the geese to poultry.

Andrew McLean of Relief Farm in Centreville, MD said poultry farmers across the state are increasing biosecurity measures in the wake of the high path avian influenza detections.

It’s a potential issue that could impact their bottom line.

“It’s huge, right now we have a number of farms in quarantine zones, that once their birds go out, can’t get birds back in, so there is going to be a loss of income,” said McLean.

The impact isn’t just being felt by poultry farmers, but also on other industries as well, according to McLean.

“There’s not as much need for the grain because we don’t have the birds and also an economic impact on all the processing plants, that there’s not as many birds going through there, won’t be as much need for the labor and money being made at the processing plant,” he said.

While those processing plants will remain on high alert, Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Trout said it was their own routine testing that led them to even find the cases on three commercial poultry farms.

“All birds are tested before they go to harvest. I think it’s satisfying to know our system of checks and balances have worked to identify those birds,” said Dr. Trout.

When it comes to putting food on the table, Dr. Trout said you should not have any concern about consuming poultry products.

“If anybody has a flock of poultry in their back yard, if they have a coup, it’s probably ideal for them to keep them in the coup, while we get through this, but otherwise concern about their food supply, there really shouldn’t be any,” she said.

You should report any unusual bird deaths or increases in sick birds to the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810.