Detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in North America occurred in December 2021 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Since then, HPAI H5 and H5N1 viruses have been confirmed in wild birds, backyard flocks, and commercial poultry facilities in both Canada and the United States.

Total Number of HPAI Detections in Wild Birds Since January 2022, (Updated Feb 13, 2024)

WHAT IS HPAI?

Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9). Many different combinations of “H” and “N” proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype and can be further broken down into different strains which circulate within flyways/geographic regions. AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high)—the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic poultry. [USDA APHIS]

CLINICAL SIGNS

Sudden death; lack of energy, appetite and coordination; purple discoloration and/or swelling of various body parts; diarrhea; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; and reduced egg production and/or abnormal eggs. [USDA APHIS]

TRANSMISSION

Transmitted directly from wild birds to domestic poultry or indirectly e.g. through contaminated material. The virus spreads directly from bird to bird via airborne transmission or indirectly, through faecal contamination of material, feathers or feed. [USDA APHIS]

ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL AND ONE HEALTH ASPECTS

Zoonotic but currently low risk of transmission to humans. High risk of transmission between wild and domestic bird species. Spring and fall migration increases transmission risk and geographic impacts. Wild birds, especially waterfowl, can serve as asymptomatic carriers.

EARLY TIMELINE OF OUTBREAK (December 2021-March 2022)

MARCH 2022

3/8/2022 NE: Lancaster County – Goose sp (https://www.hpj.com/livestock/hpai-confirmed-in-nebraska/article_72efe5a2-9eec-11ec-bbe6-8f1b0ddb5250.html)

DOMESTIC 3/6/2022 SD: Charles Max County – commercial mixed species flock

DOMESTIC 3/5/2022 MD: Cecil County – commercial layer chickens

DOMESTIC 3/4/2022 MO: Stoddard County – commercial broiler chickens

DOMESTIC 3/2/2022 IA: No county listed – non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry)

DOMESTIC 3/2/2022 CT: No county listed – non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry)

FEBRUARY 2022

DOMESTIC 2/24/2022 MI: Kalamazoo County – non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry)

2/23/2022 NJ:  Cape May County, 21 birds – Live Bird NWDP (Mallard)

DOMESTIC 2/23/2022 IN:  Greene County – Commercial Turkeys

2/23/2022 AL:  Limestone County, 1 bird – Hunter Harvest (American Wigeon)

2/23/2022 CT:  New Haven County, 9 birds – Live Bird NWDP (Black Duck)

2/23/2022 KY:  Meade County, 4 birds – Live Bird NWDP (Mallard)

DOMESTIC 2/23/2022 ME:  Knox County – Backyard Pet Chickens (non-poultry)

2/23/2022 ME:  Washington County, 6 birds – Live Bird NWDP (Black Duck)

2/23/2022 KY:  Henderson County, 4 birds – hunter harvest 

DOMESTIC 2/23/2022 MI:  Kalamazoo County – Backyard Mixed Species (non-poultry)

DOMESTIC 2/22/2022 DE:  New Castle County – Commercial Poultry

DOMESTIC 2/19/2022 ME:  Knox County – Backyard Mixed Species Birds (non-poultry)

DOMESTIC 2/19/2022 NY:  Suffolk County – Backyard Pet Chickens (non-poultry)

2/17/2022 FL:  Brevard County, 2 birds – Wild Bird Mortality Brevard Zoo (Black Vulture)

2/17/2022 NC:  Carteret County, 1 bird – Wild Bird Mortality NCWRC/SCWDS (4) (Redhead Duck)

2/17/2022 KY:  Ballard County, 2 birds – Wild Bird Mortality KDFW/SCWDS (3) (Snow Goose)

2/16/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 1 bird – Wild Bird Mortality USGS/FWS (Snow Goose)

DOMESTIC 2/16/2022 IN:  Dubois County – Domestic Turkeys

2/16/2022 NH:  Rockingham County, 26 birds – Live Bird (Mallard)

2/16/2022 CT:  Middlesex County, 20 birds – Live Bird (Mallard)

2/16/2022 NC:  Currituck County, 4 birds – Live Bird (Northern Shoveler)

2/16/2022 NC:  Pamlico County, 5 birds – hunter harvest (Mallard, Gadwall, American Widgeon)

2/16/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 1 bird – hunter harvest (Green-winged Teal)

2/16/2022 NC:  Beaufort County, 1 bird – hunter harvest (Wood Duck)

2/16/2022 GA:  Hart County, 2 birds – hunter harvest (Gadwall, American Wigeon)

2/16/2022 NC:  Craven County, 1 bird – hunter harvest (Wood Duck)

2/16/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 11 birds – hunter harvest (Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler)

2/16/2022 VA:  Virginia Beach, 1 bird – hunter harvest (Gadwall)

2/16/2022 CT:  New London County, 1 bird – Live Bird (Mallard)

2/16/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 6 birds – hunter harvest (Gadwall, Green-winged Teal)

2/16/2022 NH:  Grafton County, 3 birds – Live Bird (Mallard)

2/16/2022 NC:  Currituck County, 6 birds – Live Bird (Mallard)

2/16/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 2 birds – hunter harvest (Mallard, Green-winged Teal)

2/16/2022 NC:  Pamlico County, 10 birds – hunter harvest (Green-winged Teal)

2/16/2022 DE:  Kent County, 5 birds – hunter harvest (Black Duck, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler)

DOMESTIC 2/15/2022 KY:  Webster County – Commercial Turkeys

DOMESTIC 2/12/2022 VA:  Fauquier County – Backyard Mixed Species Birds (non-poultry)

DOMESTIC 2/12/2022 KY:  Fulton County – Commercial Broiler Chickens

2/9/2022 DE:  Kent County, 3 birds – hunter harvest (Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon)

2/9/2022 NH:  Rockingham County, 20 birds – Live Bird (Mallard)

2/8/2022 NC:  Pamlico County, 8 birds – hunter harvest (American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal)

2/8/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 1 bird – hunter harvest (American Wigeon)

2/8/2022 NC:  Pamlico County, 8 birds – hunter harvest (American Wigeon)

2/8/2022 NC:  Bladen County, 4 birds – hunter harvest (Mallard, Gadwall)

2/8/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 4 birds – hunter harvest (Green-winged Teal)

DOMESTIC 2/8/2022 IN:  Dubois County – Commercial Turkeys

2/2/2022 MR:  Kent County, 1 bird – Live Bird USGS (Lesser Scaup)

CANADA 2/1/2022 Nova Scotia: Eastern NS – Backyard Flock

2/1/2022 FL:  Palm Beach County, 2 birds – hunter harvest (Blue-winged Teal)

2/1/2022 VA:  Virginia Beach, 1 bird – hunter harvest (Green-winged Teal)

2/1/2022 NC:  Beaufort County, 3 birds – hunter harvest (American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal)

2/1/2022 NC:  Pamlico County, 4 birds – hunter harvest (American Wigeon, Wood Duck, Gadwall)

JANUARY 2022
1/26/2022 SC:  Colleton County, 1 bird – hunter harvest (Blue-winged teal)

1/26/2022 NC:  Beaufort County, 2 birds – hunter harvest (American Wigeon, Blue-winged teal)

1/26/2022 VA:  Henrico County,  2 birds – hunter harvest (Mallard, Green-winged Teal)

1/26/2022 NC:  Bladen County, 1 bird – hunter harvest (Gadwall)

1/26/2022 SC:  Colleton County, 21 birds – hunter harvest (Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Gadwall)

1/26/2022 NC:  Pamlico County, 4 birds – hunter harvest (Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon)

1/26/2022 NC:  Beaufort County, 7 birds – hunter harvest (American Wigeon, Gadwall)

1/20/2022 NC:  Pamlico County, 34 birds – hunter harvest (American Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Norther Shoveler)

1/16/2022 NC:  Hyde County, 4 birds – hunter harvest (Northern Shoveler, Gadwall)

1/13/2022 SC:  Collation County, 2  birds – hunter harvest (Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon)

DECEMBER 2021
CANADA 12/20/2021 New Foundland & Labrador: Avalon Peninsula – Multi-species Exhibition Farm