Columbia, S.C. — Clemson University animal health officials are urging owners of backyard poultry flocks and pet waterfowl to remain vigilant as peak migration season for waterfowl and other wild birds is underway in the Atlantic Flyway. Owners should isolate domestic birds from wild waterfowl and from ponds, lakes and other waters that wild birds may use.
The reminder follows confirmation of the Eurasian strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a small backyard flock in York County. The owners noted a die-off in their flock and had their birds tested at the Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center. The flock was depopulated to prevent the virus from spreading.
“With migratory waterfowl reaching South Carolina from Canada, it is unfortunate but not surprising that a backyard flock with increased exposure to viral shedders would test positive,” said South Carolina State Veterinarian Michael Neault, director of Clemson University Livestock-Poultry Health.
South Carolina’s commercial poultry industry has so far avoided the virus through strict biosecurity protocols, but backyard flocks have been more vulnerable.
“It is imperative that all owners of backyard poultry and pet waterfowl keep their birds from mingling with wild waterfowl or accessing waters that could be frequented by wild waterfowl. These precautions not only protect their birds from contracting the virus, but also help keep the entire South Carolina poultry industry safe.”
South Carolina State Veterinarian Michael Neault
In 2024, 23 states — including Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina — reported cases of avian influenza.
HPAI is considered a low risk to human health, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between March 2024 and May 2025, 70 human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) were detected in the United States, including two cases from backyard poultry. Most illnesses were mild, and no human-to-human transmission was detected. The virus is not considered a food-safety threat, and infected birds do not enter the food supply.
For information on biosecurity measures, visit the Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Avian Influenza website or the USDA’s Defend the Flock Program website.
Report sick or dead poultry to Clemson Livestock Poultry Health by calling 803-788-2260 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or using the online report form. Report sick or dead wild waterfowl to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources by calling 803-734-3886.
Warning signs of HPAI include:
- Sudden, high death loss in a short period of time
- Reduced energy, appetite and/or activity
- Lower egg production and/or soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
- Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb and wattles
- Purple discoloration of wattles, comb and legs
- Difficulty breathing, runny nares (nose) and/or sneezing
- Neurological signs such as twisting of the head and neck, stumbling, falling, tremors and/or circling
