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Maryland: Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wicomico County

Rezul News/10727659
ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 14, 2026) ~ The Maryland Department of Agriculture has reported a presumptive positive case of H5 Avian Influenza on a commercial broiler farm in Wicomico County. This marks the first case of highly pathogenic H5 Avian Influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm in Wicomico County this year and the second case in Maryland in 2026.

State officials have taken immediate action by quarantining all affected premises and depopulating the birds on the property to prevent the spread of the disease. The birds from the affected flock will not enter the food system.

While confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory is still pending, final results are expected to be released in the coming days.

Avian Influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that can easily spread among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can also be transmitted through contact with infected poultry, equipment, and even on clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus primarily affects poultry such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys, but can also impact some wild bird species including ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.

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According to the Maryland Department of Health, there is a low risk of transmission between birds and humans. However, those who work directly with poultry or dairy farms may be at a higher risk and are advised to follow key biosecurity practices.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is urging growers and backyard flock owners to implement enhanced biosecurity measures and familiarize themselves with what to do if HPAI is suspected in their flock. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided guidance for these measures.

Some key biosecurity practices include being vigilant for signs of illness in birds, reporting any suspected cases of HPAI to the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5810 for commercial or backyard flocks, and contacting the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Services hotline at (877) 463-6497 for sick wild birds.

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Other important biosecurity measures include cleaning and disinfecting transportation to prevent the spread of disease, removing loose feed to avoid attracting wild birds, limiting visitors to those who care for the flock, washing hands before and after coming in contact with live poultry, providing disposable boot covers or footbaths for anyone entering the flock area, changing clothes before entering and exiting the property, and cleaning and disinfecting tools and equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture also advises against reusing items that cannot be properly cleaned and disinfected, such as cardboard egg flats.

For more information on High Path Avian Influenza in Maryland, please visit: https://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/AvianFlu.aspx.

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