The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is suspending all poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales at flea markets or auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). This decision follows recent HPAI confirmations in commercial poultry operations in multiple surrounding states, as well as a confirmed case in a backyard flock in Pocahontas County earlier this month. Additionally, federal and state wildlife agencies have detected the virus in wild bird populations through ongoing surveillance efforts.

“This is a serious threat to West Virginia’s poultry industry which is the largest overall contributor to our state’s animal industry economy – this action provides added safeguard,” said West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “This nationwide outbreak has been ongoing since 2022, and we have worked closely with poultry industry stakeholders and our interagency partners to prepare for and respond when needed to a West Virginia outbreak.”

HPAI has been detected regionally in both commercial and backyard poultry flocks, with cases rising nationwide ahead of the spring migratory waterfowl season. For detailed information on HPAI detections in the United States, please refer to the Commercial, Backyard, & Wildlife cases in the United States (USDA APHIS). In early April, the overall HPAI status in the region will be reassessed with the possibility of resuming sales of poultry at markets.

As a reminder, to prevent the spread of the disease, WVDA urges poultry owners to:

• Limit, monitor, and record any movement of people, vehicles, or animals on or off the farm.
• Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm.
• Avoid visiting other poultry farms or unnecessary travel off the farm.
• Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear, and other items in contact with flocks.
• Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property.
• Keep flocks away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl.
• Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian immediately.

For additional precautions against the virus, visit the CDC’s Avian Influenza Guidance.

Poultry owners should report unusual death loss, a drop in egg production, or any sick domestic birds to WVDA’s Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.