sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Updates in Michigan
View the director's HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order online.
Sign up to receive updates and alerts about avian influenza in Michigan.
What is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza?
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called “bird flu,” is a virus found among various species of birds. HPAI viruses can infect domestic poultry, which includes chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl.
The virus also infects a wide variety of other birds, including wild migratory waterfowl. HPAI has even been detected in various species of mammals—presumably after the animals come into contact with infected wild birds. For more information on current detections in domestic poultry, livestock, and wildlife across the U.S., please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s webpage.
HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order
On May 1st, 2024, Director Dr. Tim Boring signed a Determination of Extraordinary Emergency, HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order, to further protect Michigan's poultry and livestock industries from the ongoing threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (view press release).
HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order
Additional Guidance on HRRRO: Further information on required enhanced biosecurity requirements for both dairy and poultry operations in Michigan in response to this HPAI outbreak.
MDARD HPAI Order FAQ for Exhibitions: frequently asked questions for Michigan fairs and exhibitions in response to the HPAI outbreak.
MDARD HPAI Order FAQ for Biosecurity: questions for required enhanced biosecurity in Michigan as part of the HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order.
HPAI's Frequently Asked Questions
As detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza continue to be discovered throughout the state, it remains vital for every producer to take steps to protect their animals.
Cases of the disease continue to be found in Michigan’s wild birds and mammals. The virus was also recently detected in Michigan dairy cattle. It is just as important now as it was at the start of the HPAI outbreak in February 2022 for producers to take every step possible to protect domestic animals from wildlife and the germs they could be carrying.
Since the outbreak began in February 2022, HPAI has been detected in domestic birds from Bay, Branch, Cass, Eaton, Genessee, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Menominee, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wexford counties.
Since April 2024, the disease has also been detected in dairy cattle from Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Montcalm and Ottawa counties.
MDARD is continuing to work diligently with local, state, and federal partners to quickly respond to reports of sick animals and provide the latest information to producers, industry, and other key stakeholders. Stay up to date with the latest information by signing up to receive notifications on HPAI in Michigan.
2024 HPAI Detections by County: click to download PDF
HPAI Detections
Use the table below to find detections in your area. You can filter by county, date, or facility.
Michigan HPAI News Releases
HPAI News and Alerts
Current National Status
The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations. Visit the USDA’s avian health web page for more information.
For more information on current detections in domestic poultry and wildlife across the U.S., please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s poultry webpage.
For information on HPAI detections in livestock and ways to keep animals healthy, please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s webpage.
Reporting Suspected HPAI Infections
Please Note: HPAI is NOT evidenced by one dead bird or one coughing/sneezing bird while the remainder of the flock is acting normally. Instead, for small flock owners, look for two or more dead birds within a 24-hour period and symptoms in the rest of the flock (not eating, acting lethargic or sleepy with eyes closed, tucking their head close to their body, and appearing to be puffed up). Download our shareable avian influenza in poultry infographic.
Domestic Animals
800-292-3939 (daytime)
517-373-0440 or 412-847-2255 (after-hours)
Wildlife
517-336-5030
Eyes in the Field: a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Online Form
Public Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the public health risk associated with HPAI remains low.
On May 22nd, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Michigan's first human case of HPAI in a dairy farm worker.
Human Safety
CDC News Release: Update: Human Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Texas (4/5/2024)
CDC News Release: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Identification of Human Infection and Recommendations for Investigations and Response (4/5/2024)
CDC: Bird Flu Virus Infections in Humans
CDC: The Risk of HPAI Infection in People is Low
CDC: Avian Influenza Information
APHIS: Public Health Monitoring Plan for USDA/APHIS Responders to Detections of Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry - English (PDF)
APHIS: Public Health Monitoring Plan for USDA/APHIS Responders to Detections of Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry - Spanish (PDF)
APHIS: PPE Recommendations during an HPAI Response (PDF)
MDHHS: First case of influenza A (H5) detected in Michigan resident
Michigan Local Health Department Map
Food Safety
The management and elimination of HPAI disease includes practices that ensure no poultry products (meat or eggs) from HPAI positive flocks enter the food chain. As a reminder, it is essential that people follow proper food safety practices when handling and cooking all poultry and eggs products.
As a reminder, it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. The proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI viruses.
With regard to the latest detection of HPAI in dairy cattle across the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing results from its testing of retail ground beef. FSIS collected 30 samples of ground beef from retail outlets in the states with dairy cattle herds that had tested positive for the H5N1 influenza virus at the time of sample collection. The samples were sent to APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for PCR testing. On May 1, NVSL reported that all samples tested negative for H5N1. These results reaffirm that the meat supply is safe.
For more information, see the FDA's questions and answers about milk safety during highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks.
The FDA maintains an HPAI updates page for up-to-date information on national food safety.
Farmer Health, Stress, and Mental Health Resources
MDARD/FRSAN Legacy of the Land grants / MSU Extension Farm Stress Program Resources
MSU Extension Teletherapy Program
MSU Extension partners with a therapy provider to provide telehealth services to farmers, farm families and workers.
Michigan Farm Bureau Stress and Mental Health Resources
https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza
View the director's HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order online.
Sign up to receive updates and alerts about avian influenza in Michigan.
What is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza?
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called “bird flu,” is a virus found among various species of birds. HPAI viruses can infect domestic poultry, which includes chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl.
The virus also infects a wide variety of other birds, including wild migratory waterfowl. HPAI has even been detected in various species of mammals—presumably after the animals come into contact with infected wild birds. For more information on current detections in domestic poultry, livestock, and wildlife across the U.S., please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s webpage.
HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order
On May 1st, 2024, Director Dr. Tim Boring signed a Determination of Extraordinary Emergency, HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order, to further protect Michigan's poultry and livestock industries from the ongoing threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (view press release).
HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order
Additional Guidance on HRRRO: Further information on required enhanced biosecurity requirements for both dairy and poultry operations in Michigan in response to this HPAI outbreak.
MDARD HPAI Order FAQ for Exhibitions: frequently asked questions for Michigan fairs and exhibitions in response to the HPAI outbreak.
MDARD HPAI Order FAQ for Biosecurity: questions for required enhanced biosecurity in Michigan as part of the HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order.
HPAI's Frequently Asked Questions
- HPAI: The Virus
- HPAI In Poultry
- HPAI In Cattle
- What is HPAI?
- Status in Michigan
- HPAI News
- Hotlines and Reporting
Report Domestic Animal Diseases:
800-292-3939 - Public Health
- Farmer Support
- Biosecurity
- For Veterinarians
- For Animal Control
- General Resources
- Media Resources
As detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza continue to be discovered throughout the state, it remains vital for every producer to take steps to protect their animals.
Cases of the disease continue to be found in Michigan’s wild birds and mammals. The virus was also recently detected in Michigan dairy cattle. It is just as important now as it was at the start of the HPAI outbreak in February 2022 for producers to take every step possible to protect domestic animals from wildlife and the germs they could be carrying.
Since the outbreak began in February 2022, HPAI has been detected in domestic birds from Bay, Branch, Cass, Eaton, Genessee, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Menominee, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wexford counties.
Since April 2024, the disease has also been detected in dairy cattle from Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Montcalm and Ottawa counties.
MDARD is continuing to work diligently with local, state, and federal partners to quickly respond to reports of sick animals and provide the latest information to producers, industry, and other key stakeholders. Stay up to date with the latest information by signing up to receive notifications on HPAI in Michigan.
2024 HPAI Detections by County: click to download PDFHPAI Detections
Use the table below to find detections in your area. You can filter by county, date, or facility.
Michigan HPAI News Releases
HPAI News and Alerts
Current National Status
The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations. Visit the USDA’s avian health web page for more information.
For more information on current detections in domestic poultry and wildlife across the U.S., please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s poultry webpage.
For information on HPAI detections in livestock and ways to keep animals healthy, please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s webpage.
Reporting Suspected HPAI Infections
Please Note: HPAI is NOT evidenced by one dead bird or one coughing/sneezing bird while the remainder of the flock is acting normally. Instead, for small flock owners, look for two or more dead birds within a 24-hour period and symptoms in the rest of the flock (not eating, acting lethargic or sleepy with eyes closed, tucking their head close to their body, and appearing to be puffed up). Download our shareable avian influenza in poultry infographic.
Domestic Animals
800-292-3939 (daytime)
517-373-0440 or 412-847-2255 (after-hours)
Wildlife
517-336-5030
Eyes in the Field: a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Online Form
Public Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the public health risk associated with HPAI remains low.
On May 22nd, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Michigan's first human case of HPAI in a dairy farm worker.
Human Safety
CDC News Release: Update: Human Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Texas (4/5/2024)
CDC News Release: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Identification of Human Infection and Recommendations for Investigations and Response (4/5/2024)
CDC: Bird Flu Virus Infections in Humans
CDC: The Risk of HPAI Infection in People is Low
CDC: Avian Influenza Information
APHIS: Public Health Monitoring Plan for USDA/APHIS Responders to Detections of Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry - English (PDF)
APHIS: Public Health Monitoring Plan for USDA/APHIS Responders to Detections of Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry - Spanish (PDF)
APHIS: PPE Recommendations during an HPAI Response (PDF)
MDHHS: First case of influenza A (H5) detected in Michigan resident
Michigan Local Health Department Map
Food Safety
The management and elimination of HPAI disease includes practices that ensure no poultry products (meat or eggs) from HPAI positive flocks enter the food chain. As a reminder, it is essential that people follow proper food safety practices when handling and cooking all poultry and eggs products.
As a reminder, it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. The proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI viruses.
With regard to the latest detection of HPAI in dairy cattle across the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing results from its testing of retail ground beef. FSIS collected 30 samples of ground beef from retail outlets in the states with dairy cattle herds that had tested positive for the H5N1 influenza virus at the time of sample collection. The samples were sent to APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for PCR testing. On May 1, NVSL reported that all samples tested negative for H5N1. These results reaffirm that the meat supply is safe.
For more information, see the FDA's questions and answers about milk safety during highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks.
The FDA maintains an HPAI updates page for up-to-date information on national food safety.
Farmer Health, Stress, and Mental Health Resources
MDARD/FRSAN Legacy of the Land grants / MSU Extension Farm Stress Program Resources
MSU Extension Teletherapy Program
MSU Extension partners with a therapy provider to provide telehealth services to farmers, farm families and workers.
Michigan Farm Bureau Stress and Mental Health Resources
https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza