Colorado has declared a disaster emergency following a presumptive bird flu outbreak affecting a facility with 1.3 million chickens in Weld County, prompting state officials to mobilize resources.
Colorado officials have declared a disaster emergency in response to a presumptive outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a poultry facility in Weld County, located north of Denver. The declaration was made by Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera on Thursday.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) reported a presumptive positive test for HPAI, commonly known as bird flu, at an egg-laying facility that houses approximately 1.3 million chickens. CDA officials indicated that dead chickens are currently being tested at the site due to an “elevated mortality report.” However, it remains unclear how many birds may be infected.
This outbreak comes on the heels of previous incidents, as HPAI was first detected in the United States in February 2022, affecting both wild birds and poultry. Records from the CDA reveal that Weld County experienced a series of outbreaks in July 2024, impacting three commercial poultry facilities with a combined total of nearly 3.4 million chickens. While the specific names of the affected businesses have not been disclosed, one facility reported a population of 1,313,800 chickens.
It is uncertain whether the latest outbreak is linked to the previously affected facility. The state’s emergency declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Plan, directing the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to implement necessary actions to assist local jurisdictions with their response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.
The declaration also authorizes the use of disaster emergency funds, enabling the OEM to mobilize state resources, enter into contracts, and make awards using emergency procurement procedures. Funds can be encumbered and expended as determined by the OEM director.
At the time of the emergency declaration, Lt. Gov. Primavera was acting as governor while Gov. Jared Polis was attending a Colorado River negotiation meeting in Washington, D.C. The governor’s office confirmed that the decision to declare a disaster emergency was made in coordination with Polis.
As the situation develops, state officials are closely monitoring the outbreak and its potential impact on both the poultry industry and public health.
According to FOX31 News, the state is taking proactive measures to manage the situation and protect both the agricultural community and consumers.