On Jun. 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agricultureﾒs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard flock of duck and geese in Polk County, Oregon. The flockﾒs owner notified a private veterinarian after the sudden death of at least one bird; meanwhile, other birds in the flock were displaying clinical signs consistent with HPAI.

The veterinarian sent a sample of the deceased bird to Oregon State University in Corvallis. A preliminary test came back positive for HPAI. NVSL made the official confirmation on June 9.