Bird flu continues to make headlines in the United States as agricultural officials and farmers brace for increasing risks during the cooler fall months and ongoing bird migrations. In the last 24 hours, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, detected in a backyard flock in Ottawa County—the ninth such case there since 2022 and the fourth this year. Health officials urge poultry owners to prevent contact between domestic and wild birds, keep flocks indoors or under full enclosures, and practice strict biosecurity, such as disinfection of boots and equipment and careful handling of birds. The public health risk remains low at this time, but vigilance is urged when handling or cooking poultry according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Across the Midwest, the risk of avian influenza is rising, with agricultural experts citing both the fall migration of wild birds and cooler temperatures as contributing factors. Virginia Tech professor Mike Persia notes that this year’s persistent HPAI outbreak is unprecedented, as the virus typically subsides in summer and does not return in the fall. Experts also emphasize that domesticated poultry, including backyard chickens, face higher risks right now and recommend owners keep their birds indoors and away from wild birds to minimize exposure.
Recent outbreaks have also affected commercial operations in Minnesota and Utah. According to USDA updates, three commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota, including a 92,000-bird operation in Meeker County and a 61,000-bird flock in Stearns County, have been struck by HPAI in just the past few days. Canada has not been spared either; a commercial flock in British Columbia recently reported new cases.
USDA and partner agencies continue large-scale surveillance, tracking detections in both wild and domestic birds. As of earlier this week, over 13,000 cases have been confirmed in wild birds across the U.S., but most songbirds and common feeder birds remain at low risk of contracting or spreading the virus. Mammal infections are still rare, and direct transmission to humans remains uncommon.
Globally, HPAI continues to circulate, especially in areas with large wild bird populations and intercontinental flyways. Authorities stress that reporting unusual deaths in wild or domestic birds, maintaining thorough cleanliness, and closely monitoring flocks are critical for containing the virus’s spread—even as public health risks to people remain low.
Thank you for tuning in to this bird flu update. Be sure to come back next week for more breaking news and vital information. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more, check out QuietPlease Dot A I.
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