BROOMFIELD, COLO.  — Colorado Department of Agriculture officials have confirmed several new detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the state over the past week.

On Sept. 21, US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed two new sites for the virus in a commercial egg laying facility in Weld County as well as in a Blue Winged Teal duck in Boulder County.

“Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are on the rise again across the country as migratory birds start their seasonal movement south. Right now, it’s critical that Colorado’s backyard and commercial poultry flock owners keep up the biosecurity measures they have been implementing since the beginning of the outbreak this spring,” said Maggie Baldwin, DVM, Colorado State. “HPAI is a disease with high mortality that can wipe out entire domestic poultry flocks in less than 72 hours. The most important thing bird owners can do right now is limit interaction between their flocks and wild birds.”

On that same day, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a verbal emergency declaration to make disaster emergency funds available to support the state’s response to the outbreak. Two days later a wild hawk in Larimer County also tested positive for HPAI. 

The Veterinarian’s Office asks that people continue to promote biosecurity practices as the best method to prevent the introduction of the disease to birds and poultry. 

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that HPAI cases do not present an immediate concern to public health and no human cases of the virus have been reported in the United States.