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Detections of Highly Pathogenic

Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

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Wild birds can be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and show no

signs of illness. They can carry the disease to new areas when migrating, potentially

exposing domestic poultry to the virus.

APHIS’ wild bird surveillance program provides an early warning system for the

introduction and distribution of avian influenza viruses of concern in the United

States, allowing APHIS and the poultry industry to take timely and rapid action to

reduce the risk of spread to our poultry industry and other populations of concern.
Confirmed HPAI Detections

Captive wild birds, defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a

wild animal that is captive or otherwise lives under or requires human supervision or

control, are included in the numbers reported on this page. Captive wild birds,

including sick wild birds that may have died after being found and taken to a

rehabilitator or sanctuary, will have the designation of “captive wild bird” in the

WOAH Classification column. To remain consistent with current reporting,

information will continue to be broken down to the county level. To protect privacy,

private or business names will not be released. This is consistent with current

reporting of wild birds as well as commercial and backyard flocks.

APHIS is continuing to process samples collected over the past year from State and

partner agencies and will continue to post this information on this page. The

detection date is the date of National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmatory

testing. APHIS will provide updates below when there are significant differences

between sample collection and detection dates.

For submitting agencies who notice data errors or omissions, please send an email

with supporting documentation (laboratory report/accession number/data collection)

to wslabresults@usda.gov.

The two maps below represent:

1. A comprehensive view of all HPAI detections in wild birds since the beginning of

the U.S. outbreak in January 2022, and 

2. The number of HPAI detections in wild birds from the past 30 days. 

Both maps represent samples collected by APHIS Wildlife Services as well as

morbidity/mortality samples submitted by State agencies and private facilities. The

data presented visually in these maps is also available in the table below.

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Table Notes

Date Detected: Specimens detected by the NAHLN H5 assay were further tested by a

developmental real-time RT PCR targeting the Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong H5 clade

2.3.4.4b. "Date Detected" indicates the date when a positive detection was obtained by the

developmental RRT PCR targeting the Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong H5 clade 2.3.4.4b.

HPAI Strain:

EA = Eurasian; AM = North American; the EA H5 (2.3.4.4) viruses are highly pathogenic to

poultry.

EA/AM: reassortant of H5 goose/Guangdong and North American wild bird lineage
Virus lineage, subtype, and pathotype per cleavage site analysis are determined from

sequence data direct from the sample or virus isolate. An incomplete subtype indicates either

(1) the specimen is pending virus isolation and/or sequencing results, or (2) the specimen was

detected by the developmental H5 RRT PCR targeting the Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong

H5 clade 2.3.4.4b but could not be further characterized, often due to a low level of virus or

viral RNA present in a given sample.

Sampling Sources:

AK DFG = Alaska Department of Fish and Game

CA DFW = California Department of Fish and Wildlife

DOI = Department of the Interior

FL FWCC = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

GA DNR = Georgia Department of Natural Resources

IA DNR = Iowa Department of Natural Resources

ID Fish and Game = Idaho Fish & Game

KS DWP = Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

KY DFW = Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife

LA DWF = Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

MA DFW = Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife

MD DNR = Maryland Department of Natural Resources

ME DIFW = Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

MN DNR = Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

MO DOC = Missouri Department of Conservation

MT FWP = Montana Fish, Wildlife, and parks

NC WRC = North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

ND Game and Fish = North Dakota Game and Fish

NE Dept of Ag = Nebraska Department of Agriculture

NH FGD = New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

NPS = DOI National Park Service

NV DOW = Nevada Division of Wildlife

NWDP = USDA Wildlife Services National Wildlife Disease Program

NY DEC = New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

NY State Dept of Ag and Markets = New York State Department of Agriculture and

Markets

OH DNR = Ohio Department of Natural Resources

PA Game Commission = Pennsylvania Game Commission

SC DNR = South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

SCWDS = Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
SD GFP = South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks

USACE = U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USFWS = DOI U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USGS = U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center

VA DWR = Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

WA DFW = Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

WI DNR = Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

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About Avian Influenza

Avian influenza is caused by influenza Type A virus (influenza A). Avian-origin

influenza viruses are broadly categorized based on a combination of two groups of

proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of

which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are

9 (N1–N9). Many different combinations of “H” and “N” proteins are possible. Each

combination is considered a different subtype, and related viruses within a subtype

may be referred to as a lineage. Avian influenza viruses are classified as either “low

pathogenic” or “highly pathogenic” based on their genetic features and the severity

of the disease they cause in poultry. Most viruses are of low pathogenicity, meaning

they cause no signs or only minor clinical signs of infection in poultry.

Related Links

Avian Influenza

Confirmations of HPAI in Commercial and Backyard Flocks

Detections of HPAI in Mammals