OMAHA- Twelve cases of a highly contagious and deadly avian flu have now been confirmed in Nebraska this year.

The disease has affected nearly 5 million chickens, gamebirds and other poultry in the state, in both commercial and backyard flocks.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture, working with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced the most recent case Oct. 21, affecting a commercial flock of 33,500 gamebirds in York County.

HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, is a virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. It can spread in different ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, equipment or the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

The infections have occurred in two waves this year. The first began in mid-March and lasted until late April.

The second began in mid-September and has affected two commercial flocks and two backyard flocks since then, as recently as last week.

Before this year, Nebraska hadn’t seen a confirmed HPAI case since 2015.

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