The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a news release Wednesday, Nov. 12, that highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a backyard flock in St. Clair County, marking the county’s first detected case of 2025.

The detection was made by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory following MDARD’s investigation. The state also confirmed HPAI in three commercial flocks in Ottawa County and one backyard flock in Monroe County.

Since the virus first appeared in Michigan in 2022, Ottawa County has now recorded 15 poultry cases overall. So far in 2025, officials report 10 cases in Ottawa County, four in Monroe County and one in St. Clair County.

MDARD said poultry owners in every county — from backyard hobbyists to large commercial

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