Maryland Confirms Second Case of Bird Flu

Maryland has confirmed its second case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza at a poultry farm in Queen Anne's County, following a previous case in Caroline County just days earlier. This brings the total number of affected poultry operations in the Delmarva region to four, prompting state officials to quarantine the sites and depopulate the infected birds, which will not enter the food supply. The virus, which spreads easily among birds through respiratory secretions and manure, poses a low risk to human health, although those working directly with poultry may be at greater risk. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is urging poultry producers to enhance biosecurity measures and report any sick or dead birds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pending confirmation of these cases, with further guidance available for those handling or in proximity to wild birds. Residents are encouraged to report unusual bird deaths or increases in sick birds to local authorities.