GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to wreak havoc on the poultry industry around the country. The Maryland Department of Agriculture recently announced that preliminary testing confirmed a positive case of HPAI on a commercial broiler chicken farm in Queen Anne’s County, Md.
This is the second case on a commercial poultry farm in Queen Anne’s County this year, and the 10th case in Maryland in 2025, the MDA reported. All of the affected premises have been quarantined, and the birds have been depopulated.
As of Dec. 23, Maryland is waiting for official confirmation on the positive case from USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
In Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture has a confirmed case of HPAI on a commercial poultry farm in Cleveland County. The confirmation comes after a recent investigation by the department in collaboration with the USDA.
The farm has been placed under quarantine, and the department is working to sample and quarantine nearby flocks.
“We have taken immediate action to contain this disease and will continue to work with poultry growers, the industry, and our laboratory partners to protect against its spread,” Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward said in a statement. “The risk to Arkansans remains low, and poultry and egg that are properly handled and fully cooked are safe to consume.”
This is the third case of HPAI found in a commercial flock in Arkansas this year, according to USDA data. However, all of the cases in commercial flocks have been in Cleveland County.
Out west, the Wyoming Livestock Board recently confirmed the presence of bird flu in a backyard flock in Carbon County. This is the fourth confirmed case in the state this year, the WLB reported. All cases this year have been found in backyard flocks.
With all of this HPAI spreading across the country, various state departments are reminding poultry owners of the threat the virus poses to their flocks. It is important for farmers to use the necessary biosecurity practices and report any sick birds, whether it be a wild or domesticated bird.
