News Release

To help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the Missouri Department of Agriculture has suspended all poultry and waterfowl auctions, shows and swap meets in Missouri counties containing control areas or surveillance zones as determined by the Department.

Federal officials have confirmed cases of HPAI in commercial poultry flocks in Newton, Jasper, McDonald and Lawrence counties. The suspension will extend to other counties if additional cases are confirmed in the weeks to come.

HPAI is a contagious viral disease known to be deadly for domesticated poultry. It has impacted poultry in all 50 states since first confirmed in the United States in 2022.

“The Missouri Department of Agriculture is working hard to contain and eliminate the HPAI virus,” said Missouri State Veterinarian Steve Strubberg. “Restricting comingling of poultry is crucial to stopping the spread of avian influenza in Missouri. As always, we encourage all poultry producers to tighten biosecurity protocols.”

Poultry can still be sold and exhibited in unaffected counties at this time, with strict biosecurity measures in place.

Poultry producers should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or an unusual increase in death loss to the state veterinarian’s office at (573) 751-3377.

For more information about avian influenza in Missouri, visit https://agriculture.mo.gov/avian-influenza.php.

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