Disaster Declaration Triggers Emergency Response to Weld County Bird Flu Outbreak

Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera declared a disaster Jan. 30 for a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Weld County, enabling state emergency response. Governor Polis, attending Colorado River negotiations in Washington, D.C., coordinated the declaration remotely.

"This action enables State agencies to continue to properly coordinate for mitigation of disease spread, response, consequence management, and recovery efforts," according to the Governor's Office. The order activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and directs the Office of Emergency Management to assist affected facilities with outbreak response and containment.

Three commercial egg layer facilities in Weld County confirmed avian flu in July 2024, affecting roughly 3.5 million birds and triggering a prior disaster declaration.

To prevent further spread, poultry owners across Weld County must immediately increase biosecurity measures and report any unusual illness or deaths in their flocks.

Producers should contact the State Veterinarian office at 303-869-9130 or the CSU Avian Health Call Line at 970-297-4008 for quarantine details and reporting.

Human health officials note that proper cooking inactivates the virus in food. Workers handling sick or dead birds should wear gloves, respiratory protection, and eye protection.

An active quarantine covers parts of Weld County, with full details and biosecurity resources available on the Colorado Department of Agriculture avian influenza page.