~ Annapolis, MD - The Maryland Department of Agriculture has officially declared the release of the control area within Caroline County, MD in regards to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) situation. This decision was made after careful consideration and evaluation of the current state of the outbreak.

The previously infected premise will remain under quarantine, but all other farms in the former control area are no longer subject to movement or placement restrictions. This means that these farms can resume normal operations and are not required to conduct enhanced surveillance testing specific to the control area, as long as they are not located within another active control area.

However, routine HPAI surveillance will continue statewide to ensure that any potential outbreaks are quickly identified and contained. Farms that had placed birds before the release of the control area are still required to complete biosecurity audits if they have not already done so.

It is important for all poultry producers and backyard flock owners to maintain strong and consistent biosecurity practices, as there is still one active control area in Wicomico County on the Delmarva peninsula.

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In order for a control area to be released, certain conditions must be met. These include depopulation of the infected flock and completion of initial virus elimination for the infected premises. Additionally, required surveillance testing for commercial and backyard flocks must be completed. Even though these control areas have been released, any farm in a control area that did not complete a biosecurity audit and had chicks placed before the closure will still need to do so.

HPAI is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds through nasal and eye secretions and manure. It can also be spread from flock to flock through contact with infected poultry, equipment, and even clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus primarily affects poultry such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys, but can also impact some wild bird species including ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.

In the event that poultry owners notice any signs of HPAI in their flock, it is important to take immediate action. Commercial poultry producers should notify the company they grow for, while backyard flock owners should not take dead or sick birds to a lab for testing or move them off-site. Instead, they should report any unusual or sudden increases in illness or mortality to the MDA Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture urges all poultry owners to remain vigilant and continue practicing strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of HPAI. By working together and following proper protocols, we can help protect our poultry industry and prevent further outbreaks.

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