With the potential to cause large financial losses to the U.S. poultry industry, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has re-emerged in New York state with recent cases confirmed in Dutchess, Ulster, and Suffolk County. These flocks were euthanized to help control the spread of the virus, but poultry specialists anticipate more occurrences could be on the way.
A highly pathogenic strain of HPAI, H5N1, last hit the U.S. in 2014-2015 and was considered the nation's largest animal health emergency. Over 200 cases of the disease were found in commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and wild birds. More than 50 million birds were affected and subsequently died or were euthanized on more than 200 farms in 15 states.
Wild and domestic waterfowl spread HPAI to domestic flocks. Since the outbreak of 2014-2015, scientists have been monitoring wild bird populations, and waterfowl hunters send their harvested birds in for testing. New York state is located in the Atlantic Flyway -one of four migratory routes wild birds follow. As birds migrate north in the spring, positive cases in wild birds will move with them and there is increased potential for the virus to establish in poultry flocks along this route.
HPAI lives in the respiratory and/or intestinal tract of birds. It can be picked up from contact with infected feces, surfaces, or through the air, though aerial transmission from farm to farm is unlikely. It can be transported on infected feed, clothing, or equipment. Once on the farm, the disease is readily passed from bird to bird, infecting an entire flock quickly.
