January 30, 2025: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Detected in Two (2) New Commercial Poultry Flocks in Madera County and Merced 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 two (2) new commercial poultry flocks: one in Madera County and one in Merced County. Movement restrictions have been placed within the following eight (8) California counties: Butte, Madera, Marin, Merced, Riverside, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. This nationwide outbreak of HPAI began in 2022 and all US detections in poultry can be found here: 2022–2025 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (usda.gov). Note that the website is updated at noon Eastern Standard Time.
Ban on All California Poultry and Dairy Cattle Exhibitions at Fairs and Shows The 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.
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.
January 29, 2025: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) H5N9 Strain Detected for the First Time in California, A Different Strain than H5N1
A commercial duck flock in Merced County, confirmed to have H5N1 bird flu on December 14, 2024, received secondary testing and the final report on January 13, 2025 confirmed the presence of a different, additional strain of bird flu---H5N9. This was reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) per protocol and published on January 24, 2025.
This finding is not unexpected or alarming since ducks serve as a reservoir host for influenza A viruses and there is evidence that the H5N9 virus is a North American N9 reassortant of the H5N1 virus that has been seen in wild birds since 2022 with periodic spillover into domestic flocks. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and USDA remain vigilant for any H5 viruses and will continue to monitor for new or unusual viruses as our on-going testing strategy.
Currently, there is no additional information to indicate that this reassortant/strain H5N9 presents any increased risk to public health. There is still no known human-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus. Public health agencies and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) continue to monitor for any impacts from the bird flu strains.
January 27, 2025: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Detected in a Backyard Flock in Yolo 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 a backyard flock in Yolo County. Movement restrictions have been placed within the following nine (9) California counties: Butte, Fresno, Kern, Marin, Merced, Riverside, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. 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.
January 20, 2025: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Detected in a Commercial Flock in Riverside 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 a commercial flock in Riverside County. Movement restrictions have been placed within the following nine (9) California counties: Butte, Fresno, Kern, Marin, Merced, Riverside, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. 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.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
January 17, 2025: A Letter to California Backyard Flock Owners
To all our California backyard poultry owners,
We are seeing the continued spread of H5N1 Avian Influenza (aka HPAI or Bird Flu) in both dairy and poultry farms across multiple counties. We consider the winter bird migration season a period of high risk to all poultry owners. 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 the Bird Flu virus on fomites (surfaces) such as hands, shoes, clothing, or feet and fur of rodents and other animals. This 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 of infection.
The California 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. 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 supporting this ban and the recommendations we have provided in this letter.
Clinical signs of Bird Flu in poultry 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. If your flock experiences any unusual/suspicious illness or deaths, call your veterinarian or the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-2473.
Avoid touching or handling any injured, sick, or dead wild birds unless necessary. Do not let pets such as cats and dogs consume any wild birds. Sick and injured wild birds should be reported to your local animal control office. Report any usual deaths (groups of 5 or more) in wild birds, or any deaths in endangered, threatened, and/or protected wild bird species to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) at 916-358-2790 or online at bit.ly/CDFWreporting (year-round reporting). If a wild bird MUST be handled, wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as disposable mask and gloves and wash your hands with soap and water. If needing to dispose of a deceased bird, place into a leak proof plastic bag, seal, spray with a disinfectant known to kill the avian influenza virus, and place into a secondary plastic bag, seal, and spray disinfectant again. The bag may be placed into a receptacle (trash can) and prevent wild animals such as racoons and bears from retrieving the bag. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have contracted the Bird Flu virus, contact your local public health department. If you suspect Bird Flu in your pet cat or dog, please also contact your veterinarian and your local public health department.
The current risk to the public remains low. Human infections with bird flu viruses are rare, but they can happen when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or when inhaled. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected and people rarely get Bird Flu, but those who interact with poultry, dairy cattle or wildlife have a greater risk of infection. Take precautions if you have a backyard flock. Keep birds separate from other animals (like pets and livestock). Avoid kissing or putting birds near your face. Wash your hands before and after contact with your birds. Avoid visiting places where other birds are kept. Do not touch sick or dead birds without personal protective equipment (PPE) such as eye goggles, face masks and gloves. Signs and symptoms of infection may include: eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing, fever (100 °F or higher). Contact your local public health department right away to arrange for testing and treatment and that you may have been exposed to bird flu.
We strongly urge all poultry owners in California to protect their flocks by increasing their biosecurity practices until risks are reduced. Recommended biosecurity practices can be found on the CDFA and USDA websites.
For the latest updates on H5N1 affecting poultry and livestock, please visit our webpage here and for national detections of H5N1, please visit the USDA APHIS webpage at this link.
Sincerely,
Your CDFA Animal Health Team
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.
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).
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. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.