Avian flu was detected in a backyard flock of about 15 ducks and geese in Madison County, according to Madison County Public Health. It is the first known case of avian flu in domestic birds in the county, but a bald eagle found in the county in September 2022 tested positive for avian flu.

HPAI spreads easily among birds and – while rare – can spread from birds to people. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the risk to people from HPAI viruses to be low.

Dead wild birds recently sampled across several Lower Peninsula counties are suspected to be positive for bird flu.

County officials said that people who deal with livestock need to be extra cautious to look out for signs of infection, which are similar to seasonal influenza.