The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is receiving increasing reports of sick or dead wild birds on the Eastern Shore.

State agencies are issuing avian influenza (HPAI) precautions after detection of the virus in locations they manage. Although the chance of encountering a diseased animal—even less of catching or transmitting it—the safety steps are simple and procedures most readers likely already follow.

With the advent of cases of avian flu in southern New England, and the rise in egg prices due to limited supply as a result, concerns are rising about the threat and impact of the fowl-borne illness.

The nationwide spread of highly pathogenetic avian influenza, HPAI, also known as avian or bird flu has many in Illinois concerned about livestock,

Minnesota and Iowa were added to the National Milk Testing Strategy on Jan. 8. There are now 36 states involved in the testing for the avian influenza virus.

Two European regulators said on Wednesday they were tracking variants of the avian influenza virus due to the threat of the pathogen adapting to spread between humans and triggering future pandemics, reported Reuters .

The risk of bird flu to humans is low, but eating undercooked eggs or chicken could increase your chances of exposure to infection and germs.

Commercial duck flock in California has tested positive for two strains of avian influenza. On November 23, 2024, two HPAI viruses were identified in samples from a farm rearing meat ducks in Merced County in California. Increased mortality was observed at the premises, leading the state veterinary authority to quarantine the farm.

Health officials urged people to identify avian flu symptoms early and properly cook chicken and eggs to limit risk of infections.

Although cases of bird flu are surging among birds in the UK, the risk of the virus spreading to humans still remains extremely low. A bit of context about influenza explains why health protection agencies think this is the case.

ZooAmerica in Hershey announced it is moving its bird population to roofed enclosures and other covered outdoor areas to address the recent rise in avian influenza in the Eastern United States. According to ZooAmerica,