MDARD Encourages Animal Owners to Continue Taking Steps to Prevent HPAI as Wild Birds Migrate this Fall

By Jennifer Holton

While highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has not been detected in Michigan's domestic animals since March 2025, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) encourages animal owners to remain vigilant and take preventative measures as wild birds that may carry the virus complete their fall migration.

"Since the current outbreak of HPAI began in February 2022, the most common cause of disease spread has been wild birds. As wild birds have started to migrate this year, the virus is already being detected in poultry from North and South Dakota,"  said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "With the virus continuing to circulate, owners must actively take measures to protect their animals from being exposed to wild birds and their germs. Keeping Michigan s domestic animals healthy needs to remain a priority."

In 2024, MDARD along with other state, federal, and animal health partners responded to the largest HPAI outbreak in Michigan s history. Beginning with a detection in a dairy herd in late March, the virus impacted 31 dairies, 11 commercial poultry flocks, and two backyard poultry flocks across 15 Michigan counties. There were also two cases of the disease in Michigan farm workers who were working with infected dairy cattle.

So far, in 2025, there have been two HPAI detections in commercial poultry flocks and seven detections in Michigan backyard flocks. For dairy cattle, Michigan was one of the first states to enroll in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Milk Testing Strategy, requiring regular testing for HPAI in all of the state's licensed dairy facilities. In July 2025, Michigan achieved Stage 4 / Unaffected Status, meaning the virus is no longer being detected in the state's dairy cattle herds.

HPAI is a highly contagious virus that can spread in various ways from animal to animal, including through wild birds, contact with infected animals, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. The disease is also zoonotic, meaning it can affect both animals and people.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with this disease remains low. People should continue to properly handle and cook all meat and eggs to the correct internal temperature and avoid consuming raw milk.