Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has made its way to Puerto Rico.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of HPAI in a backyard poultry flock in the U.S. territory.
This is the first case of HPAI in domestic birds in Puerto Rico during the 2022-25 outbreak.
According to APHIS, samples from the flock were tested and confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
APHIS is working closely with animal health officials in Puerto Rico on a joint incident response and will provide appropriate support as requested. As part of existing avian influenza response plans, APHIS and the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture are conducting additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock.
Maryland reports HPAI in broilers
State laboratory testing has detected the presence of HPAI in Caroline County, Maryland. The presence of the virus was found during routine sampling and investigation of a broiler operation in the county, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced.
According to MDA, this marks the first case of H5N1 at a Maryland commercial poultry operation since 2023 and the third commercial operation in the Delmarva region in the last 30 days. Two broiler flocks in Kent County, Delaware, earlier tested positive for the virus.
State officials have quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the properties are being or have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
MDA said that confirmation by APHIS is pending and more information is anticipated in the coming days.
“The Maryland Department of Agriculture, local health department, USDA and partner organizations are working diligently to address the situation, including quarantining and testing nearby flocks. We continue to urge commercial growers and backyard flock owners to be on heightened alert for HPAI,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks.
Delaware events cancelled
Following the recent confirmed presence of HPAI in Kent County, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) cancelled all poultry-related sessions previously scheduled for Delaware Ag Week on January 13-16.
“We understand the disappointment this may bring, but we believe this step is necessary to prevent any potential risks to your flocks or livelihoods. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and explore opportunities for future events or virtual alternatives to support the poultry community,” explained Brian Farkas, dean of the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
More flocks infected in British Columbia, Ontario
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported three more commercial poultry flocks in the country have been struck by HPAI.
Two of those were in Abbotsford, British Columbia, with those cases being confirmed on January 11. The other was in Wellington County, Ontario, with HPAI being confirmed in that flock on January 10.
Further information concerning what type of poultry was in these flocks or how many birds were affected has not yet been released.
So far in 2025, Canada has lost seven commercial poultry flocks to HPAI. Five of those have been in British Columbia and two have been in Ontario.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
