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.
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.
Delaware Receives $120K Grant for American Kestrel Conservation Project
Delaware has received approximately $120,000 from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Program to support the study and preservation of the American kestrel, a species currently listed as endangered in Delaware and the smallest falcon in North America.
Delaware Poultry Owners Urged to Take Precautions Due to HPAI on Delmarva
The Delaware Department of Agriculture is urging all poultry owners, including commercial producers and backyard flock owners, to take precautions to protect their flocks from disease after a commercial broiler flock in Caroline County, Maryland, was preliminarily confirmed to have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Further confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory is pending.
High Path Avian Influenza Confirmed In Black Vultures, Poultry Producers Encouraged To Take Precautions
Federal laboratory testing confirmed cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) in samples taken from black vultures initially found sick and dead on April 22 in Harford County, Maryland. Considering the ongoing detections in the black vulture population, all poultry owners need to continue with increased vigilance in protecting their flocks from contracting avian influenza.
