Within the past few weeks, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has confirmed HPAI in backyard chickens in Tulsa and Creek counties. It has also been detected in wild waterfowl near Oklahoma City. Earlier this spring, HPAI cases were reported on a commercial poultry operation in eastern Oklahoma.

The department warned backyard poultry owners to take careful biosecurity measures this fall to protect their animals from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Officials with Oklahoma State University Extension and ODAFF said the risk of HPAI transmission to humans and other animals is low.