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Maryland Department of Agriculture officials said preliminary testing confirmed the presence of highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) on the property.
The US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory is now expected to confirm the results in the coming days.
The affected birds will not enter the food system, officials said.
Avian influenza is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, manure, and contaminated equipment, clothing, and shoes according to health officials.
It affects poultry such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys, along with some wild bird species like geese, shorebirds, and raptors.
The Maryland Department of Health said the risk to the general public is low, though individuals working with poultry or dairy farms should follow strict biosecurity practices.
Backyard flock owners are required to register their flocks with the Maryland Department of Agriculture to help protect Maryland’s poultry industry from outbreaks.
More information about avian influenza can be found here.
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