The U.S. is facing the largest outbreak of bird flu in its history. As birds migrate this spring, the virus can spread along major flyways through droppings, contaminated water, or direct contact, infecting backyard flocks, pet birds, and commercial poultry. Anyone who raises birds should understand the risks and how to protect their poultry.
Dr. Chelsey Shivley, is a Critical Issues Manager in USDA Veterinary Services. She said this version of bird flu is difficult to contain.
“it can spread by wild birds, often with no signs of illness, and it can infect our domestic poultry through both direct and indirect contact,” she said.
Shivley said the primary symptom of an infected bird is death, but there are other signs people can notice early on.
“Neurological signs such as ataxia, lethargy. You might see decreased feed or water intake. You might see decreased egg production. If you see any of these signs it's important to contact your veterinarian's office, you can also contact your state veterinarian's office,” she said.
The outbreak started in 2022. Since then, over 197-million birds have been infected or died as a result of the disease across the country.
Poultry is big business in Kentucky. There are 850 large-scale poultry farms in 50 counties. There are 685 Kentucky turkey farms as of 2022 with cash receipts totaling $30 million. These farms employ around seven thousand people.
For poultry operations with 500 or more birds that have not been affected by HPAI, USDA provides free, voluntary biosecurity assessments and may cover up to 75 percent of the costs to address high-risk gaps identified during those assessments.
- To raise public awareness about bird diseases and free, available resources — including biosecurity assessments — USDA APHIS launched the Defend the Flock campaign.
