Mason County has confirmed its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, impacting a small backyard flock of ducks. The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced that the sick birds were reported to veterinarians last week, with test results confirming the virus shortly after. Dr. Dana Dobbs, the avian health lead, highlighted the ongoing risk posed by the virus in the environment and urged flock owners to adopt enhanced biosecurity measures. Residents within a six-mile radius of the detection site are encouraged to report the health status of their flocks through an online self-reporting tool.

The state veterinarians are proactively contacting flock owners in the surveillance area to monitor health without necessitating in-person visits. The primary transmission risk remains direct contact with wild waterfowl, with 55 affected flocks reported since the first case in May 2022. Owners experiencing sudden illness or death in their birds are advised to contact the Sick Bird Hotline or utilize online reporting for appropriate actions. Proper handling of deceased birds is crucial until veterinarians can perform necessary sampling.