MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A backyard flock of birds in Franklin County, Vermont, has tested positive for bird flu.
Officials with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture say the small flock of 24 birds started falling to bird flu last Wednesday and has experienced ongoing losses since.
Agriculture officials say the disease is contained and there are no other reports of illnesses in other flocks.
It’s the fourth time in two years that a domestic flock in Vermont has tested positive for bird flu.
Earlier this month, health officials confirmed the first-known severe illness in the U.S. caused by bird flu. In all, 65 people have tested positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, more than 125 million domestic poultry died or were culled this year because of the virus. There are also new concerns about the spread of the disease among cattle after nearly 900 herds in 16 states tested positive.