ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland agriculture officials announced Thursday that initial tests have detected H5 avian influenza at a commercial chicken farm in Caroline County.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture reported the presumptive positive case on February 26, 2026, marking the third instance of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) identified at a commercial poultry facility within the state.
The affected operation is a broiler farm, which raises chickens specifically for meat production. State officials are working to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.
