DOVER, DEL. – Testing by the US Department of Agriculture confirmed two cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza — one at a pullet operation in New Castle County, Del., and a second case in a broiler flock in Queen Anne’s County, Md.

The new findings follow previous detections of HPAI on farms in New Castle County and Cecil County in Maryland. Animal health officials from the Delaware and Maryland Departments of Agriculture and federal partners have expanded surveillance sampling and testing to protect the Delmarva Peninsula poultry industry.

“State officials have quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the properties are being or have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease,” the Delaware Department of Agriculture said. “Birds from affected flocks will not enter the food system.”

Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joseph Bartenfelder issued executive orders restricting the movement of poultry litter generated in certain areas of the state and restricting movement of poultry to and from a control area consisting of an “Infected Zone” and a “Buffer Zone.”

Meanwhile, the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) recorded 171,224 turkeys on commercial turkey farms have been affected by H5N1 avian influenza. Four affected premises are in Dubois County and two farms are in Greene County, according to BOAH data.