Gov. Jared Polis has declared a disaster emergency in response to rising cases of avian flu in Colorado bird populations, including at a commercial facility in Weld County affecting more than one million poultry.
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza spreads rapidly among wild and domestic poultry with a mortality rate above 90%. It was initially detected in the wild bird population of Colorado on March 24 and in domestic poultry on April 8.
The avian flu has not been detected in Boulder County, but has been reported in wild and domestic birds in surrounding counties, totalling 17 statewide. Along with the commercial poultry operation in Weld County, avian flu has recently been detected in wild birds in Broomfield and Larimer counties.
The avian flu spread rapidly through Colorado in the spring of this year. The disease was detected at a commercial boiler facility in Montrose County on April 19, affecting 58,000 birds, and at a commercial table egg layer facility in Weld County on April 29, affecting 1.4 million birds and more than seven million eggs. Both facilities culled the birds to prevent further spread.
Cases tapered out in the summer, but popped up again last month. On Sept. 20, the avian flu was detected at a commercial facility in Weld County affecting 1.1 million birds.
The birds will need to be killed, but due to limited federal resources the state is supporting the depopulation activities, which is why the governor declared a disaster emergency. The executive order makes $1 million available to help with the state’s mitigation efforts, along with the portion remaining from the state’s previous disaster declaration for avian influenza earlier this year.
While avian flu does not often affect humans, the first identified human case in the U.S. of the H5NA virus was found in a Colorado man who works at a Western Slope poultry farm earlier this year. The test revealed the presence of the virus in a single nasal specimen, but further testing was negative.
The state asks for the public to report sick birds or unusual bird deaths. Learn more about preventing the spread of avian flu in poultry or report bird deaths at ag.colorado.gov/animals/reportable-diseases/avian-influenza.
