Avian Influenza Outbreak Spreads in US Poultry Flocks

Avian influenza, specifically highly pathogenic H5N1, has been confirmed in a commercial poultry farm in Madison County, Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the USDA, is taking immediate action to contain the disease, including sampling and quarantining nearby poultry flocks. There is no public health concern, and poultry meat and egg products remain safe to eat. The affected area, approximately 25 miles surrounding the farm, is under quarantine, and certain actions such as exhibiting, moving, or selling poultry are prohibited. Backyard flock owners are advised to confine their poultry and report any sick or unusual deaths.