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Eastern Shore delegation hears update on avian influenza; state reports hundreds of thousands of birds affected
Summary
Federal and state officials reported high-pathogenic avian influenza cases across Delmarva, described inspection and biosecurity steps and said USDA inspectors are being trained to certify poultry houses before restocking.
Congressman Andy Harris and Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Addicks updated the Eastern Shore delegation on a regional outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and on steps to contain it.
Harris said he has raised the issue with federal officials and is pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture on financial and inspection support for affected farmers. "There is no poultry insurance," Harris said, adding that federal assistance and extra inspectors are being sought so farmers can know whether they can safely restock their houses.
Secretary Kevin Addicks told the delegation Maryland has four commercial farms with confirmed infections and that the state has trained additional staff to perform inspections. "We have 4 folks on our staff who are now trained to be the kind of audit inspectors to go through and make sure that the houses are clean," Addicks said. He gave a regional tally: "There have been 650,000 birds affected in Maryland, 320,000 in Delaware, [and] 440 in Virginia." Addicks said Delmarva is operating with surveillance, control and red zones to limit spread.
Officials described the inspection requirement as new and necessary to prevent reinfection after cleaning. Addicks said USDA rolled out the inspection protocol rapidly and the state is coordinating with USDA and neighboring states so more inspectors will be available: "on the shore, we should be having, you know, 8, 10, 12, 15 of these inspectors ... ready to roll out as needed." Delegates and the secretary discussed the two-week minimum timeline for audits before houses can be restocked and the strain that delay creates for farm cash flow.
Delegation members asked about biosecurity for hunters and wild birds. Addicks said the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and APHIS have agreements to collect reported dead wild birds and that public messaging has been distributed advising hunters to follow biosecurity steps and report sick or dead wild birds. He said the immediate practical steps are surveillance, enhanced biosecurity and fast action when infections are discovered, and noted seasonal migration patterns can influence spread.
Delegates also pressed for clearer public-facing maps and lists so producers can determine whether they are inside control zones. Addicks said the state will continue to publish information and that regional coordination with Delaware and Virginia is ongoing.
Ending: Delegation members and officials agreed to stay in close contact; the Maryland Department of Agriculture and USDA will continue inspections, training and messaging while the delegation monitors impacts on farming operations and requests federal support where needed.
