State officials are urging backyard poultry owners to strengthen their biosecurity practices following a series of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detections across New Jersey earlier this year.

Between February and May 2025, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) confirmed HPAI at eight locations, including two backyard flocks in Salem and Atlantic counties, and six live bird markets. The virus, which is highly contagious and often fatal to domestic poultry, has also been found in wild birds across 16 counties, most recently in black vultures in Somerset County, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

As Fall migration season begins, state officials warn that interactions between wild birds and backyard flocks may increase, thus raising the risk of transmission. These interactions include: direct contact and/or the sharing of waterers, feeders, or swimming areas. This kind of direct exposure can be a potential source of disease transmission to domestic poultry, especially because HPAI can spread through contact with infected birds’ bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces like feeders, waterers, shoes, and equipment. Backyard poultry flocks in New Jersey are particularly at risk due to their smaller size and frequent exposure to wild birds or their droppings.

Strong biosecurity practices are key to protecting poultry from infection, and the NJDA is urging all poultry owners (including farms with multiple species, like poultry and ruminants) to stay vigilant and implement strict biosecurity protocols. Multi-species farms should evaluate and strengthen biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of cross-species disease transmission. Key biosecurity steps include securing housing against wildlife, reducing environmental attractants like standing water and uncovered feed, limiting human and equipment traffic, and regularly disinfecting surfaces and tools. Separate clothing and footwear for poultry care, or the use of disposable boot covers, is also recommended. The NJDOH also recommends wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling sick or dead birds. PPE can be obtained through a request to your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension county office.

The NJDA, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and other partners, continues to monitor and respond to the H5N1 threat. HPAI is a reportable disease, so suspected cases must be reported to the NJDA Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400. For wild bird mitigation support, contact USDA Wildlife Services at 908-735-5654.

As a reminder, signs of HPAI in poultry include:

• Sudden death
• Reduced appetite or water intake
• Coughing, sneezing, or nasal discharge
• Swelling around the eyes or face
• Open-mouth breathing
• Discolored combs or legs
• Drop in egg production
• Lethargy

For more information, including additional resources regarding biosecurity plans, please refer to the memo from Dr. Amar Patil, DVM, MVSc, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVM, Director of the Division of Animal Health/State Veterinarian: 2025 HPAI Letter to BYF Poultry Owners_SEPT

Upcoming Webinar: “For the Birds! Health Concerns of Poultry and How to Keep Them Safe”

Join the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for a free virtual webinar focused on the health and safety of backyard poultry flocks. Learn about common poultry health issues, like avian influenza, and discover practical steps to protect your birds. The event will feature a 45-minute presentation, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with NJDA Animal Health experts. This event is catered to poultry and livestock owners, hobbyists, and anyone involved in animal health and agriculture.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
💻 Location: Virtual
🔗 Register now via the QR code on the flyer

As HPAI continues to spread across the United States, poultry owners are urged to review their biosecurity practices and remain on alert for clinical signs of HPAI in their flock. Multi-species operations, particularly those with both poultry and ruminants on-site, are encouraged to mitigate areas in which the spread of disease between species may be at risk.

Clinical signs can include:

• Sudden death
• Decrease in feed or water consumption
• Respiratory signs such as coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge
• Swelling around the eyes
• Open-mouth breathing
• Darkening of the comb/wattles
• Reddening of the shanks or feet
• Decreased egg production
• Lethargy

HPAI spreads through contact with bodily secretions, including feces, ocular, nasal, or oral secretions from infected birds. The virus can spread on vehicles, equipment, shoes, etc. Biosecurity is particularly important for those residents of New Jersey who keep backyard poultry flocks, which are typically smaller flocks and can include mixed bird types. Backyard flocks often have constant or frequent access to the outdoor environment by nature of their housing style, which increases the likelihood of direct encounters with wild birds or their feces. Wild birds can enter backyard flock enclosures, increasing the risk of direct contact. Potential exposure to wild birds via sharing waterers, feeders, or swimming areas is another source of disease risk to domestic poultry. Practicing good biosecurity can help prevent the spread of HPAI onto a farm.

For resources regarding biosecurity plans, please refer to the memo from Dr. Amar Patil, DVM, MVSc, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVM, Director of the Division of Animal Health/State Veterinarian: 2025 HPAI Letter to BYF Poultry Owners.

Here are other websites that contain more information and guidance:

• Department of Agriculture | Animal Health
• H5N1 – Bird Flu
• Avian Influenza | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• Defend the Flock

HPAI is a reportable disease. If you suspect HPAI in your poultry, please alert the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.

To New Jersey Dairy Producers and Dairy Cattle Owners:

There has been a rise in HPAI detections in domestic poultry and dairy cattle, particularly in western states, over the past few months. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has also reported over 60 human cases related to individuals who had close contact with infected livestock or poultry. While H5N1 bird flu currently has not been detected in dairy cattle or people in New Jersey, due to the ongoing outbreaks in other states, New Jersey farm owners and farm workers should be aware of the risks and monitor dairy cattle, domestic poultry, other livestock, farm pets, and farm workers for signs of illness. Cattle farms should identify areas of potential improvement in biosecurity, including limiting farm access to essential employees only, cleaning and disinfection of vehicles, implementing strategies for wild bird determent, and use of footbaths at barn entryways. Multi-species operations, particularly those with both poultry and ruminants on-site, are encouraged to mitigate areas in which the spread of disease between species may be at risk.

For resources regarding biosecurity plans, please refer to the memo from Dr. Amar Patil, DVM, MVSc, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVM, Director of the Division of Animal Health/State Veterinarian: December 2024 HPAI Letter to Dairy Owners

Also, New Jersey has developed a Voluntary Dairy Herd Health Monitoring Program which is available to all dairies in the state. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact Dan Wunderlich (Daniel.Wunderlich@ag.nj.gov) at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

To Backyard Flock Poultry Owners:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed (by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)) in commercial and backyard flocks throughout the nation since 2022. The HPAI virus remains present in wild birds and other wildlife, as well as domestic poultry and livestock in the United States. As HPAI continues to spread across the country, poultry owners are urged to review their biosecurity practices and remain on alert for clinical signs of HPAI in their flock. Multi-species operations, particularly those with both poultry and ruminants on-site, are encouraged to mitigate areas in which the spread of disease between species may be at risk.

For resources regarding biosecurity plans, please refer to the memo from Dr. Amar Patil, DVM, MVSc, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVM, Director of the Division of Animal Health/State Veterinarian: Dec 2024 HPAI Letter to BYF Poultry Owners

I’ve included for you a memo from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture regarding Theileria orientalis subtype Ikeda found in NJ.

Theileria orientalis Ikeda is a tickborne protozoan infection in cattle (but can impact sheep and goats) that is most commonly spread through the bite of an ixodid tick. An emerging vector for this disease is the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), a tick that was first identified in Hunterdon County in 2017 and has since been detected in 21 states and DC. This tick is active in New Jersey from March through October or early November (Ticks Don’t Take a Winter Vacation).

Well, what will happen if animals get bitten by an infected tick?

• The T. orientalis Ikeda protozoa will infect the red and white blood cells, which results in anemia in affected animals.
  • Due to anemia, infected cattle may appear similar to those affected by anaplasmosis.
•  Common clinical signs include weakness, inappetence, pyrexia (elevated body temperature), mucosal pallor (pale gums/mucus membranes), jaundice, and elevated respiratory and heart rates.

T. orientalis Ikeda infections have been reported to cause mortality in 1- 5% of infected cattle but can be as high as 50%. Pregnant heifers and calves are particularly susceptible to infection. While there are several types of T. orientalis found in the United States, to date, only T. orientalis genotype Ikeda has been shown to cause severe illness in animals.

How do you control it?

• There is no approved treatment or vaccine for T. orientalis in cattle in the United States.
• The best method of prevention is tick control. Recommended strategies include:
  • Veterinary-approved pesticide treatment (such as pour-on and ear tags)
  • Regular tick inspections
  • Clearing of bushes
  • Keeping pastures and grass mowed short.

A useful document can be found here: Managing the Asian Longhorned Tick: Checklist for Best Management Practices for Cattle Producers

The NJDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (AHDL) is currently working to coordinate diagnostic testing for T. orientalis. For further information on testing, veterinarians should contact the laboratory at (609) 406-6999 or via email at jerseyvetlab@ag.nj.gov. As an emerging disease in New Jersey, knowing detected cases of T. orientalis can help determine the impact of this disease on New Jersey cattle.