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The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) notified Dare County health officials on Monday, March 3, 2025 of a laboratory confirmed positive test result for Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 or bird flu in a backyard flock in Dare County.

This is the first confirmed positive in a backyard flock in Dare County. In January, HPAI was found in a commercial layer operation in Hyde County and in two commercial turkey operations in Sampson County.

“In coordination with the flock owner, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture has completed a depopulation of the flock and Dare County Department of Health & Human Services (DCDHHS) officials are working with state partners to respond to any potential human exposure,” stated a DCDHHS news release.

Avian influenza is a disease caused by avian influenza A virus, which can affect most species of birds and some animals. While avian flu can make people sick, it is rare and the risk to the public remains low, stated the release. To date, there has been no human-to-human spread identified.

“It is likely that HPAI remains in our resident wild bird population and in migratory waterfowl, so reports of positive backyard flocks will likely happen on occasion,” said Dr. Mike Martin, state veterinarian. “I encourage our commercial and backyard flock owners to continue to follow strict biosecurity measures and if your flock is experiencing a sudden higher-than-normal mortality rate, report it right away to your local veterinarian or to the N.C. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division at 919-707-3250.”

There are protective actions that residents can take to protect themselves, their pets and their backyard flocks from H5N1. For more information on avian influenza and what steps you can take to minimize risk of infection, go to flu.ncdhhs.gov/HPAI/. To learn what bioprotective measures residents should take when managing their backyard flocks, go to ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/AvianInfluenza#2025-12441.

“This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but is highly contagious to other birds, including commercial and backyard flocks of poultry. The virus is also not considered a food safety threat and infected birds do not enter the food supply,” stated the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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