The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Dec. 2 that have confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Adair County. The virus was detected in a commercial poultry flock.

A control area has been established in Adair and Delaware counties to assess the extent of the infection. Movement of poultry in and out of the established control area is restricted to manage the spread of HPAI.

“We’ve been preparing for situations like this due to HPAI circulating around the country for the last two-and-a-half years,” said Oklahoma state veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall. “Our Avian Influenza Response Plan has been activated, and we are working closely with USDA, poultry producers and livestock producers to control and mitigate the spread of this disease in our state.”

The state agriculture department said flock owners should take every precaution to protect their flock from HPAI by preventing their poultry from exposure to wild birds and any areas where wild birds have been. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately as well as report possible cases to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry.

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Oklahoma last reported a confirmed case of HPAI in a backyard flock on Nov. 21, according to the APHIS HPAI webpage. The state also reported HPAI in dairy cattle over the summer.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products, as there is no risk to the food supply, but the affected birds will not enter the food supply system.