Overview:
- Michigan's Department of Natural Resources suspects highly pathogenic avian influenza is behind the deaths of over 300 waterfowl across five Lower Michigan counties.
- Preliminary testing confirms the presence of the virus in dead birds found in Allegan, Shiawassee, Ingham, Eaton, and Washtenaw counties.
- The outbreak comes amid growing national concerns over the H5N1 strain's potential risks to humans.
- Officials urge the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report die-offs of six or more at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources suspects highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, is responsible for more than 300 waterfowl deaths across five Lower Michigan counties.
Preliminary testing indicates the virus is present in dead birds found in Allegan, Shiawassee, Ingham, Eaton, and Washtenaw counties, where Canada geese and mallards have been reported dying in large numbers.
HPAI spreads through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments and has been circulating widely in Michigan’s wild bird populations since an initial outbreak in 2022.
Samples from affected sites have been sent to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for testing, with further confirmation expected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
The outbreak comes amid growing national concerns over the H5N1 strain’s potential risks to humans. A recent Johns Hopkins Public Health report highlighted the first U.S. death from the virus in January after a Louisiana patient’s infection showed mutations that could enhance human-to-human transmission.
While the general public’s risk remains low, scientists warn that continued spillover into mammals—including dairy cattle—raises the potential for the virus to adapt further.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to monitor the virus, warning that if H5N1 were to gain the ability to spread efficiently between humans, it could pose a pandemic threat.
Already, the virus has been linked to mass die-offs in bald eagles, terns, and other wildlife, and has infected some mammals, including cats and foxes.
DNR officials urge the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and to report die-offs of six or more at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
While property owners are responsible for removing dead birds on private land, health officials advise using gloves, masks, and other protective measures when handling carcasses.
More information on confirmed cases and ongoing monitoring efforts is available on the DNR’s HPAI webpage.