STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV) – On February 23, the Mississippi Board of Animal Health reported that a backyard poultry flock in Copiah County tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, often referred to as HPAI or H5N1.

This is the second backyard flock to test positive for HPAI. The first confirmation was in Lowndes County in November 2022. There have also been two detections in commercial broiler flocks, one in Lawrence County in November 2022 and the other in Leake County in February. All affected facilities were quarantined, and the birds were depopulated to prevent spreading.

Officials with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service said poultry growers are encouraged to report sudden deaths in their birds.

HPAI is a highly contagious form of avian influenza that can kill entire flocks of infected poultry. The virus can occur naturally in wild birds and can be spread to poultry.

Many wild birds, especially waterfowl, can be infected by HPAI and not show symptoms. However, since December 2022, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has reported more than 150 wild bird fatalities related to HPAI in Mississippi. Many of the fatalities have been in black vultures and snow geese.

“Eighty-four percent of the analyzed U.S. detections in poultry premises and nonpoultry flocks are consistent with independent wild bird introductions,” said Dr. Jim Watson, state veterinarian. “The flyways of the Mississippi, Pearl River and Tombigbee rivers seem particularly affected. This means that the virus is in the environment in most of our poultry producing counties.”

Watson encouraged growers to secure poultry houses so wild animals have no points of entry. He also recommended that poultry producers have clothing and footwear exclusively for use in the houses.

Officials said the virus does not pose a food safety risk. All poultry products should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees before they are safe to eat.

Backyard bird owners can report any sick or dying birds online or by calling the Mississippi Board of Animal Health animal disaster hotline at 1-888-646-8731.