Sussex County Backyard Flock Tests Presumptive Positive for H5 Avian Influenza
The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) announced today that testing of a backyard flock in Sussex County, Del., has returned presumptive positive for H5 avian influenza from the University of Delaware’s Lasher Laboratory in Georgetown, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. This is the first case of H5 avian influenza in poultry in Sussex County.
Collection of Avian Influenza-Impacted Wildlife in Delaware Expanded Through DNREC-USDA Wildlife Services Effort
The Delmarva Avian Influenza Joint Information Center announced that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services are collaborating to collect sick and deceased snow geese and other wild birds that may have succumbed to the outbreak of avian influenza currently spreading throughout the state.
Update on Delaware H5 Avian Influenza Case on Kent County Farm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) has returned results from the Kent County, Del. poultry farm that was announced presumptive positive for H5 avian influenza on January 3, 2025. The poultry affected had highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI) of the Eurasian lineage 2.3.4.4b with early indications that the virus is the D1.1 genotype found in wild birds; however, confirmation of the genotype is determined by sequencing. There is currently no timeline for the receipt of this data by the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
Delaware Announces First Presumptive Positive H5 Avian Influenza Case Detected on Kent County Farm in 2025
The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced this morning that preliminary testing of a commercial broiler flock in Kent County, Del., has returned presumptive positive H5 from the University of Delaware’s Lasher Laboratory in Georgetown, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. Additional samples have been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for further confirmation.
Snow Geese Test Presumptive Positive for Avian Influenza; Delaware poultry producers encouraged to take precautions
DNREC and DDA announced today that laboratory testing conducted by the University of Delaware’s Allen Laboratory has returned presumptive positive findings of H5 avian influenza in sick and dead snow geese collected on December 27, 2024, in coastal Sussex County.