LITTLE ROCK — For most of 2024, Arkansas was spared from the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu. In December, however, the virus was confirmed in six Arkansas backyard poultry flocks and one commercial poultry operation tested positive.
Dustan Clark, extension poultry health veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and associate director of the university’s Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, said HPAI was confirmed in a backyard/hobby flock on Dec. 9. Five more backyard flocks in Lafayette, Craighead, Jackson, Pope and Sharp counties have since tested positive.
HPAI was confirmed in a backyard/hobby flock on Dec. 9, 2024. Five more backyard flocks in Lafayette, Craighead, Jackson, Pope and Sharp counties have since tested positive.
On Dec. 30, the virus was confirmed in a commercial broiler farm in Clay County. There has also been confirmation of HPAI in a peregrine falcon in Lonoke County.
In neighboring Louisiana, a person who had been hospitalized with severe avian influenza died this week, becoming the bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Jan. 6, there have been 67 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2022, according to the CDC.
HPAI is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among chickens through nasal and eye secretions and manure. The virus can be spread from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on caretakers’ clothing and shoes.
“The keeping of small flocks of poultry continues to be one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States,” Clark said. “If you have a small poultry flock or are thinking of getting one, biosecurity procedures will help protect your flock and those of your neighbors. You are the first line of defense for your poultry flock.”
Clark plans to offer several online webinars and in-person seminars to provide information about poultry diseases, HPAI and biosecurity measures later this month and in February at various sites across the state.
HPAI on the rise nationally
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 subtype was first detected in poultry in the United States on Feb. 8, 2022, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.
The disease has continued to be a problem, affecting more than 129 million birds across the county. It has been detected in all 50 states, with 1,365 flocks testing positive as of Dec. 30. Of these, 617 were commercial poultry flocks, and 748 were backyard/hobby flocks.
“The potential losses and costs associated with Avian Influenza outbreaks make it extremely important for all poultry flock owners to protect their flocks,” Clark said.
Recognize signs of illness
Clark urges poultry owners to watch for early signs of illness, such as a change in a bird’s behavior. Signs include the following:
- sudden deaths without any prior signs of illness
- drop or cessation in egg production or soft shell or misshaped eggs
- lack of appetite
- sneezing, gasping, difficulty breathing
- diarrhea
- drop in water consumption
- a bird stumbling or falling
- twisting of the head and neck
- discharges from the eyes and/or nostrils
- swelling of the comb, face, and eyelids
- ruffled feathers, huddling
- a bird keeping to itself
The best defense against HPAI is prevention. Clark offers these recommendations fr USDA’s Defend the Flock education program to prevent exposure to HPAI.
Do Not Bring Disease Home with You
If you purchase new birds, look at them closely to check for signs of illness. This is important even if it is your own birds returning from a poultry exhibition. It is best to quarantine new and returning birds away from your flock for at least 30 days. Most diseases manifest within this time frame. Isolate the birds as far away from your home flock as you can (at least 100 feet) and care for the quarantined birds last.
Equipment such as crates and nest boxes could be contaminated with feces, feathers and fluids that contain disease organisms, so it is best to not borrow equipment. If that is not possible, thoroughly clean and disinfect the equipment before taking it onto your premises and before and after each use.
If you visit areas with waterfowl, such as ponds, lakes, and hunting areas, or areas with poultry, change your clothes and shoes and wash your hands before checking your birds. Do not bring home wild waterfowl or allow them access to your birds. Keep your birds in covered pens to prevent exposure to wild or migratory birds.
Clean and disinfect
Keep poultry facilities clean and free of weeds, debris and spilled feed.
Practice good vermin control
Mice and rats can carry diseases that can infect your birds, and they also attract snakes. Control of flies, buffalo gnats, and mosquitoes is also important since these insects can carry/spread diseases. Wild birds and other wildlife should be excluded from your poultry pens along. It is also important to keep your pets out of poultry pens.
Restrict visitors
Visitors may accidentally contaminate your poultry. Restrict visitors to your farm and poultry facility. Have all visitors clean their shoes or boots and disinfect them before visiting your poultry. A pair of boots or shoe covers for visitors is even better. Lock your poultry pens and facilities.
Get help and report the unusual
If you see something in your bird that is unusual or is “just not right,” get help immediately. Contact your local veterinarian, local county extension agent, extension poultry veterinarian, the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Division at 501-225-1598, state veterinarian, or USDA hotline (866-536-7593). If you have a bird die, consider submitting it to your state or university diagnostic laboratory for evaluation.
For more information on avian flu, contact your local county Extension agent, or the following:
- Terry Conger, DVM, Poultry Health /Epidemiologist: [email protected], 501-224-9515
- John G. Nilz, DVM, Arkansas State Veterinarian, [email protected], 501-297-2250
- Arkansas Dept of Agriculture Livestock and Poultry Division, 501-225-1598
- Dustan Clark, DVM, Arkansas Extension Poultry Veterinarian, UA System Division of Agriculture, [email protected], 479-957-4245
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
