Cooperative Extension Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Six Hooded Merganser Ducks Found Dead at the Outlet of Maranacook Lake Test Positive for HPAI AUGUSTA, ME — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife was notified today that six hooded merganser ducks that were found dead at the outlet of Maranacook Lake tested positive for HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza). The National […]

Backyard Flock and Commercial Operators Are Urged to Prevent Contact Between Domestic and Wild Birds AUGUSTA, ME — The risk for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) remains high in Maine, and backyard flock and commercial operators are urged to prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing them indoors and ensuring their outdoor areas […]

Update from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): Contacts: APHISpress@usda.gov WASHINGTON, October 21, 2022 — The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Newport […]

Vigilance is still needed as HPAI continues to be detected in Maine’s wildlife. AUGUSTA, ME — Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a highly contagious virus that can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including through wild birds, contact with infected poultry, equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. Starting in February […]

— Submitted by Anne Lichtenwalner, DVM Ph.D., University of Maine Associate Professor of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Director of the UMaine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. From Maine.gov’s recent Animal Health Program, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry email notification. For Immediate Release: July 1, 2022 Media Contact: Jim Britt, jim.britt@maine.gov AUGUSTA — Today, due […]

Guidelines from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — Submitted by Anne Lichtenwalner, DVM Ph.D., University of Maine Associate Professor of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Director of the UMaine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Posted with permission of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). We are seeing increased wild bird losses […]

June Update: More States with HPAI, This Time in the South Please keep your bird biosecurity up! — Submitted by Anne Lichtenwalner, DVM Ph.D., University of Maine Associate Professor of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Director of the UMaine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Content from the post: USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Georgia (USDA […]

Is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the United States over? No. HPAI continues to impact US domestic and wild birds, and we should be very grateful we’ve not recently had domestic flock cases in Maine, but very cautious to keep it from happening again. Between this February and last week, approximately 37.7 million poultry […]