Overview
- State and federal labs confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza at a Weld County egg operation housing about 1.33 million chickens.
- Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera issued a verbal disaster declaration, enabling emergency funding and an on-site response center to carry out culling and disposal.
- Quarantine and movement restrictions cover areas around Gilcrest and Platteville, and nearby flock owners are urged to report flock status and not move birds or eggs.
- Health authorities describe the human risk as low but real, require PPE for on-site workers, and stress that properly cooked eggs and poultry remain safe to eat.
- Officials link ongoing risk to persistent circulation in wild birds, note recent backyard flock detections in Larimer, Logan and Morgan counties, and say millions of chickens have been culled statewide since 2022.