DOVER, Del. — State agriculture officials have confirmed Delaware’s first case of avian influenza this migratory season after a backyard flock in Kent County tested presumptive positive for the H5 strain of the virus. The Delaware Department of Agriculture says the affected property, home to several types of poultry, is under quarantine after an unusual number of birds died. The remaining flock is being euthanized to keep the virus from spreading to other farms.
Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is an airborne virus that spreads quickly among birds through contact with infected droppings, feathers, or contaminated equipment. While it poses little risk to humans, it can devastate domestic flocks, especially chickens, ducks, and turkeys. This detection marks the state’s first confirmed case during the 2025–26 waterfowl migration season. Delaware conducts year-round testing through the Department of Agriculture and the University of Delaware lab system, monitoring commercial farms, exhibitions, backyard flocks, and poultry auctions for signs of the virus.
To help contain outbreaks, all poultry owners in Delaware are required to register their flocks so they can be alerted quickly in the event of new cases. Registration information is available at de.gov/poultry.
Officials are urging poultry owners to ramp up their biosecurity efforts, including keeping birds away from wild waterfowl, disinfecting equipment and footwear, limiting visitors, and isolating any sick animals. Anyone who notices unusual symptoms in their birds should call the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at 302-698-4507 or email poultry.health@delaware.gov.
Commercial growers should report concerns directly to the poultry companies they work with.
The Department of Agriculture is also cautioning hunters not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to follow federal biosecurity guidelines available at aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf
