On Feb. 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Suffolk County, New York.

Samples from the flock were tested at the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is a very contagious disease caused by an influenza Type A virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family. Type A influenza viruses can infect human, swine, equine and avian species but occur naturally in wild waterfowl which do not show any clinical signs. When wild waterfowl mix with domestic poultry, they can transmit the virus.