The H5N1 strain of avian influenza was discovered in a non-commercial farm flock in southern Washington County, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

On Jan. 24, staff from DEM’s Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment’s Animal Health Unit euthanized a flock of about 40 birds to prevent the spread of the disease. Rhode Island previously had an H5N1 infection in a non-commercial backyard flock in 2022 in Newport County.

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory recently detected bird flu in a backyard flock in New Haven County, CT News Junkie reported Jan. 27. Officials didn’t specify what municipality the birds were in or what species of birds were part of the flock.

The outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza was the second in Connecticut this year. The state’s first case of bird flu was confirmed in New London County 10 days ago, in a backyard flock of pet chickens, ducks, and peacocks, according to CT News Junkie. After two peacocks and three chickens were found dead, a Stonington family brought the animals in for testing. Once the highly contagious bird flu was confirmed, the rest of the birds on the farm were euthanized to prevent the virus from spreading.

Since federal and state government officials began tracking in February 2022, at least 1,400 outbreaks have been reported in more than 600 counties nationwide, affecting nearly 135 million birds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the public health risk for H5N1 to be low, and no person-to-person spread of H5N1 has been detected in the United States.

The state’s food supply remains safe, according to DEM. The Rhode Island agency said public health officials will continue to monitor for changes in the virus to prevent infected poultry products from being introduced into the food chain.

Rhode Island and Connecticut participate in a federal program for H5N1 surveillance of milk supplies and dairy herds. There have been no positive H5N1 samples in milk in Rhode Island, according to DEM.

Southern New England is situated in the Atlantic flyway, a major north-south migratory bird route. H5N1 is expected to be present in wild birds in the area because of the virus’s prevalence in a variety of wild waterfowl and shorebird species that migrate in this flyway. Initially restricted to wild birds and poultry, H5N1 has since been found in mammals, including foxes, bears, and seals; in domestic animals such as cats and dogs; and in farm animals such as goats and dairy cows.

The best way to prevent avian influenza in humans is for people to avoid exposure. People who work with or have recreational exposure to birds, poultry, or cows are at a greater risk for infection and should consider wearing personal protective equipment and avoid direct contact with birds or other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with avian influenza.

The positive Rhode Island detection was confirmed through laboratory testing at a University of Connecticut lab. Since emerging in the United States in 2022, the H5N1 strain has been detected in every state; it was first detected in Rhode Island in a noncommercial backyard flock in 2022, followed by a fox kit in 2023.

Once an H5N1 diagnosis is confirmed, infected domestic birds are depopulated within 24 hours. H5N1 infection requires a rapid response because domestic poultry mortality rates exceed 90%. Depopulating infected domestic birds, which DEM strives to do by using a method of euthanasia approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, limits how much they suffer from the infection and removes them as a source of infection for other birds.