Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) 2024 - 2026

 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Resource Page

Farmers who suspect HPAI in their livestock:

Farmers please contact your veterinarian if you have not already done so. For veterinarians and farmers, if you suspect HPAI in a patient at your clinic or farm, please call your state department of agriculture or state animal diagnostic lab or any of the following numbers or links for further instructions.

For New York State, New York State Agriculture and Markets – Division of Animal Industry: (518) 457-3502 Avian Influenza in New York State

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): (866) 536-7593

New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Lab: (607) 253-3900

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-bird-flu-resource-center/poultry

Backyard Chicken Flock Owners who suspect HPAI:

• Cornell Avian Health Clinic

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/animal-health-diagnostic-center/programs/avian-health

• Dr. Jarra Jange
  Office: 607-253-4031
  Email: jj34@cornell.edu

• Local Onondaga County Veterinarian
  • Dr. Gayanna Gilbraith, Cicero Animal Clinic, PC, 8803 Brewerton Rd, Brewerton, NY 13029.  315.699.0050

General Public or Hunters or Farmers who have found wild animals dead (especially waterfowl):

https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/article/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza

Reporting tool - https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/dee381c0ee8a4114a83dc1892fc0f7ed

General signs and symptoms of Avian Flu in Poultry:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza

• Sudden death without any prior symptoms of illness
• Lack of energy and appetite
• A drop in egg production or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs
• Swelling of the eyelids, comb, wattles, and shanks
• Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
• Gasping for air (difficulty breathing)
• Nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing
• Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)
• Stumbling or falling down
• Diarrhea

General Signs of Avian Flu in Cattle:

• Decreased food intake
• Tacky feces
• Thick yellow colostrum-like milk

Get the most updated information from the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disea...

• Detections Updates: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disea...
• Poultry detections dashboard https://publicdashboards.dl.usda.gov/t/MRP_PUB/views/VS_Avian_HPAIConfirmedDetections2022/HPAI2022ConfirmedDetections
• Dairy & Cattle Livestock detections dashboard https://publicdashboards.dl.usda.gov/t/MRP_PUB/views/VS_Cattle_HPAIConfirmedDetections2024/HPAI2022ConfirmedDetections
• USDA Information about HPAI in English and Spanish
  http://cceonondaga.org/resources/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-download-file
• Cornell NYS  Updates on Avian Flu detections https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/article/highly-pathog...
  • Use this form, to update the DEC on suspected avian flu on your farm

Fact Sheets - Prevent the spread of avian flu on your farm:

• Producers: You Can Prevent the Spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (399.62 KB)
• Manage Wildlife To Prevent Avian Influenza (200.66 KB)
• Hunters: Protect Yourself and Your Birds From Avian Influenza (296.4 KB)
• Improving Biosecurity With Wildlife Management Practices: Preventing Access to Barns and Other Facilities (1 MB)
• Improving Biosecurity With Wildlife Management Practices: Reducing Water Access (1.34 MB)
• Improving Biosecurity With Wildlife Management Practices: Protecting Food Resources (1.2 MB)

National Milk Testing Program 

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-release...

• National Milk Testing Strategy

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disea...

• Milk Testing dashboard https://publicdashboards.dl.usda.gov/t/MRP_PUB/views/H5AIinDairyCattleNationalMilkTestingStrategy/CurrentDashboard

Biosecurity continues to be the best way to prevent HPAI in livestock

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disea...

Human health precautions:

• NYSDOH has produced a video "Avian Influenza on Dairy Farms: Keeping Workers Safe", which includes information and resources to help combat HPAI once it is detected in a dairy herd. There are links to resources, including information for native Spanish speakers, opportunities to prepare by accessing personal protective equipment (PPE), and additional training options.
• Frequently Asked Questions provide additional information on transmission, and how to best protect farmworkers.
• If you, or workers on your farm have been exposed to H5N1, please contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Bureau of Disease Control, at (315) 435-3236.

CDC Information on Human Health and Bird Flu

https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/caring/infected-birds-exposure.html

USDA Information about HPAI in English and Spanish

http://cceonondaga.org/resources/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-download-file

For Dairy Farmers - Summary of information from Cornell's April 3, 2024,"HPAI Dairy Foods Virtual Office Hours" held on April 3, 2024. http://cceonondaga.org/resources/dairy-farms-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai

Last updated January 22, 2026