LA PLATA — The Charles County Department of Health reported on September 12, 2025, that dead vultures found in the La Plata area tested presumptively positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a contagious virus affecting birds. Preliminary results, received the same day, await confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory. While the risk to humans remains low, officials advise against handling sick or dead birds to prevent potential spread. The discovery, centered in Charles County’s seat of about 10,000 residents, underscores ongoing concerns about avian influenza in Southern Maryland’s wildlife and poultry sectors.
The vultures were collected after reports of unusual mortality in the La Plata area, a region surrounded by farmland and the Potomac River. HPAI, an airborne respiratory virus, spreads rapidly among birds through nasal and eye secretions or droppings. It affects poultry like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, as well as wild species including ducks, geese, shorebirds, raptors, and vultures. The virus can transfer between flocks via infected birds, equipment, or caretakers’ clothing and shoes. Charles County, with its mix of rural agriculture and suburban growth, is home to numerous backyard flocks and commercial poultry operations, heightening vigilance.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture outlined protocols for poultry owners. Commercial producers must notify their contracting company if signs of disease, such as sudden deaths or respiratory issues, appear. Backyard flock owners noticing HPAI symptoms should contact the state’s Animal Health team at md.birdflu@maryland.gov or 410-841-5810, providing flock size, location, and concerns. Moving sick or dead birds off-site for testing is discouraged to limit spread. Maryland requires backyard flock registration to protect the state’s $1.2 billion poultry industry, a critical economic driver in Southern Maryland, where farms in Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert counties produce millions of broiler chickens annually.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) emphasized precautions for waterfowl hunters, urging handwashing and dedicated gear for handling game to avoid contaminating domestic birds. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, working with DNR, coordinates wild bird carcass collection. Residents spotting dead birds should call 1-877-463-6497 rather than handling them. This follows similar efforts across Maryland, where over 50 wild bird deaths were reported in 2025, including snow geese in Worcester County.
This is not Charles County’s first encounter with HPAI. In February 2024, a backyard flock tested positive, leading to quarantine and depopulation to prevent spread. Birds from affected flocks do not enter the food supply, ensuring consumer safety. Maryland has seen nine commercial poultry operations in the Delmarva region, including two in Charles County, affected since January 2025. The virus, carried by migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, has hit vultures particularly hard due to their scavenging habits, likely contracting it from infected carcasses. A 2022 Harford County outbreak killed over 100 black vultures, highlighting their vulnerability.
The public health risk remains low, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Since 2022, 67 human cases of H5N1 were reported nationwide, with one death, primarily among poultry or dairy workers. No person-to-person transmission has been documented. Cooking poultry and eggs to 165°F eliminates the virus, ensuring food safety. Charles County’s response aligns with state protocols, emphasizing biosecurity measures like covering compost piles and removing standing water to deter wild birds.
Southern Maryland’s poultry industry, centered in Charles County’s rural areas like Nanjemoy and Marbury, faces ongoing challenges from HPAI. The region’s proximity to wetlands and migratory routes increases exposure. Local farmers are urged to enhance biosecurity, such as using netting over waste and grading land to prevent water pooling. The Charles County Health Department will post confirmed test results, expected soon, to guide further action. Residents are encouraged to report sick or dead birds promptly to curb the virus’s spread, protecting both wildlife and the region’s agricultural backbone.
