Tests Confirm Bird Flu In Montgomery County Flock

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — A Montgomery County property with a backyard flock of chickens is under quarantine after the Maryland Department of Agriculture said bird flu was found among the flock.

Birds on the properties are being or have been destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease, authorities said. Birds from the affected flock will not enter the food system.

The news release did not identify the owner of the flock or specify the community where the flock was located.

Confirmation of the bird flu virus by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory is pending, with final results expected in a few days.

Avian influenza — also known as bird flu — is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, contact with infected poultry, equipment, and the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

The virus affects poultry, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, along with some wild bird species such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.

According to the Department of Health, the risk of transmission between birds and the general public is low; however, those who work directly with poultry or dairy farms may be more at risk.

Learn more about avian influenza on the Department of Health's website.

On Jan. 10, officials said bird flu had been detected in a commercial poultry operation in Caroline County, the first case in the state since 2023, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. It followed two additional cases of bird flu found in December in neighboring Kent County, Delaware.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources urges waterfowl hunters to help prevent the spread of the virus by washing hands and clothes after handling game and using dedicated clothing, boots, and tools for cleaning game that are not used around domestic poultry or pet birds.

Residents and poultry producers are asked to report any unusual bird deaths or sudden increases in very sick birds to the MDA Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810 or after-hours to 410-841-5971; the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at 877-620-8367; or the USDA at 866-536-7593.