Please view the following announcement from https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/Animal_Health/Avian_Influenza.html:
Sacramento, CA December 6, 2023 – 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 commercial flocks in Stanislaus County. This is in addition to the recent cases during this year’s fall bird migration in the following four counties: Fresno, Merced, San Benito, and Sonoma. This nationwide outbreak of HPAI began in 2022 and all detections can be found on the USDA website under: 2022-2023 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Note that the website is updated at noon Eastern Standard Time.
To protect other flocks in California, the locations of the detected infected flocks are currently under quarantine, and the birds are euthanized to prevent further disease spread.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this strain is considered a low risk to human health, however, 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.
It is important to note that HPAI is widespread in California and may also be present in other counties that are not listed (due to having no laboratory submissions from those counties). Enhanced biosecurity is critical in the face of ongoing disease outbreaks. Please continue to practice good avian biosecurity protocols according to your plans.
Report any unusual or suspicious sick or dead domestic, pet, or collection birds immediately via the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473.
Report any unusual or suspicious wild bird deaths to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report. If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, please contact the CDFW directly.
Stay Informed: For the latest updates on California domestic poultry, follow us on social media and subscribe. You can find us on Facebook at Animal Health Branch – CDFA and on Instagram at AnimalHealthBranch_CDFA.
For public inquiries regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza 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.