A bird in a backyard flock tested positive for bird flu, Dare County officials said.
DARE COUNTY, N.C. — Dare County has confirmed its first case of bird flu, according to the county’s department of health and human services.
A bird in a backyard flock tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, known commonly as bird flu.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture worked with the owner to euthanize the animals. The Dare County health department is working with state partners to respond to any potential human exposure.
In January, bird flu was found in a commercial operation in Hyde County.
While Avian flu can make people sick, it is rare and the risk to the public remains low. To date, there has been no human-to-human spread identified.
However, egg prices have been impacted in Hampton Roads and nationwide. More than 166 million birds have been slaughtered to contain the virus. Some 30 million egg layers have been wiped out just since January, significantly disrupting egg supplies.
Prices could jump by another 41% this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
