January 10, 2025: Statewide Ban on Poultry and Dairy Cattle Exhibitions at Fair and Shows in Place
Poultry and Dairy Cattle Exhibition Ban at Fairs and Shows Our State Veterinarian has placed a ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows until further notice. This decision was made to protect the remaining unaffected herds and flocks across California as we see continued detections of the H5N1 virus. This ban addresses the highest risk bird species related to avian influenza – chickens, turkeys, ducks, and upland game birds (e.g. pheasants and chukars). All other exhibitions and shows including those with psittacines, pigeons, and doves will not be impacted at this time. We’re working tirelessly to combat Bird Flu and protect our state’s farms and flocks. CDFA and USDA are working together to safeguard our agricultural resources and food supply. We hope our communities will support us in our efforts through support of this ban and to continue practicing enhanced biosecurity.
Movement Restrictions Movement restrictions have been placed within the following ten (10) California counties: Butte, Fresno, Kern, Marin, Merced, Riverside, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. Quarantines are placed on individual infected premises and not the entire county. All US detections in poultry can be found here: 2022–2024 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
For Poultry Owners The Bird Flu virus is mainly spread by wild birds, especially in wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese. Any wild bird species can also become a source. Bird Flu is widespread in California and may be present in counties that are not listed. This can be due to no lab submissions from those counties. We strongly urge all poultry owners in California to protect their flocks by increasing their biosecurity practices. Recommended biosecurity practices can be found on the CDFA and USDA websites.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious and often fatal disease in birds. The disease is spread through movement of infected or exposed birds, direct or indirect contact with infected wild and domestic birds or contact with virus on fomites (surfaces) such as hands, shoes, clothing, or feet and fur of rodents and other animals.
Clinical signs of HPAI include sudden death, trouble breathing, clear runny discharge (from nose, mouth, and eyes), lethargy, decreased food and water intake, swelling (eyes, head, wattles, or combs), discolored or bruised comb, wattles, or legs, stumbling/falling or twisted neck.
Poultry owners with flocks that have experienced any unusual/suspicious illness or deaths should call our CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473).
Wild Birds Avoid touching and handling injured, sick, or dead, wild birds. Contact your local animal control for further instruction and report any unusual or suspicious deaths in wild birds to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife online. If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife directly: Wildlife Health Lab - Avian Investigations (ca.gov).
Stay Informed: For the latest updates in California domestic poultry, subscribe and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook (Animal Health Branch – CDFA) and Instagram (AnimalHealthBranch_CDFA).
For more information and updates on wild bird detections in California, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
For public inquiries regarding HPAI in California, please call 916-217-7517 or send an e-mail to cdfa.HPAIinfo@cdfa.ca.gov. For media inquiries, please call 916-654-0462 or send an e-mail to OfficeOfPublicAffairs@cdfa.ca.gov.
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January 7, 2025: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Detected in Three Commercial Flocks Affecting Butte County and Stanislaus County
Sacramento, CA – Following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and rapid disease detection by California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in three commercial flocks, one in Butte County and two in Stanislaus County. Movement restrictions have been placed within the following ten (10) California counties: Butte, Fresno, Kern, Marin, Merced, Riverside, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. Quarantines are placed on individual infected premises and not the entire county. This nationwide outbreak of HPAI began in 2022 and all US detections in poultry can be found here: 2022–2024 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (usda.gov). Note that the website is updated at noon Eastern Standard Time.
For Poultry Owners
The Bird Flu virus is mainly spread by wild birds, especially in wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese. Any wild bird species can also become a source. Bird Flu is widespread in California and may be present in counties that are not listed. This can be due to no lab submissions from those counties. We strongly urge all poultry owners in California to protect their flocks by increasing their biosecurity practices. Recommended biosecurity practices can be found on the CDFA and USDA websites.
Wild Birds
Avoid touching and handling injured, sick, or dead, wild birds. Contact your local animal control for further instruction and report any unusual or suspicious deaths in wild birds to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife online. If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife directly: Wildlife Health Lab - Avian Investigations (ca.gov).