First 2024 Cases of Avian Flu Confirmed in North Dakota

By North Dakota Monitor staff

The first cases of bird flu during the fall migration have been confirmed in three North Dakota counties. 

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture on Wednesday said it has received confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard chicken flock in McHenry County, a commercial turkey flock in Ransom County, and a backyard mixed flock in Bottineau County. 

The department said the results were confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. 

The department said facilities have been quarantined and flocks have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease that can spread rapidly in poultry flocks.  

The Agriculture Department said there is no immediate public health concern. The avian flu risk to people is low despite the disease often being fatal for birds.  

The confirmed cases triggers the suspension of commingling poultry and bird events in McHenry, Ransom, and Bottineau counties and birds from those counties. If no new cases emerge in 30 days in one of those counties, the suspension will be lifted.

Avian flu exists in many wild birds and can be transmitted by contact with infected birds or through infected food and water.

More information about avian influenza is available at ndda.nd.gov/avian-influenza and from the U.S. Department of Agriculture at aphis.usda.gov. 

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