Avian flu found in Cass County birds

Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock from Cass County.

This is the first case of HPAI in Cass County since the disease was first detected in the state in 2022 and the first confirmed case in Michigan since March 2023.

Agency officials said as the fall migration of wild birds continues, it is crucial for every bird owner to take steps to protect their flock from the virus.

There have been fewer detections of HPAI in the United States and Michigan this year, but the threat posed by the virus was never fully eliminated, according to state veterinarian Nora Wineland.

HPAI is a highly contagious virus that can spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.