LANSING — The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a non-commercial backyard poultry flock in Menominee County, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said Tuesday.

This is the third detection in domestic birds in the state, and the first in the Upper Peninsula.

HPAI is a highly contagious virus that can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

To protect other flocks in Michigan, the Menominee County site is under quarantine, and the birds will be “depopulated” to prevent further disease spread, according to a statement from the department.

“As wild birds continue their spring migration and spread the disease, it’s critical Michigan’s backyard and commercial flock owners take every possible precaution to protect their birds through biosecurity,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland. “Maintaining the health of Michigan’s domestic birds is a team effort. Increasing biosecurity protects not only your flock but others around the state. Now more than ever, it is essential poultry owners to take every step possible to keep wild birds away from their flocks and follow strict biosecurity measures,” Wineland said.

The HPAI case was found in Menominee County west of Escanaba and along the Wisconsin border. It involved about 50 birds of mixed species, a spokesperson told mlive.com. State agriculture officials conducted an investigation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of the influenza.

Like previous domestic bird detections in both Kalamazoo and Macomb counties, this is another isolated case of the virus, and there are no anticipated disruptions to supply chains and no threat to public health or food safety, MDARD said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.

Also, no birds or bird products infected with HPAI will enter the food chain. As a reminder, all poultry and eggs should be handled and cooked properly.

Whether it’s a few backyard birds or a large commercial flock, MDARD advises the following biosecurity measures are fundamental to protect the health and vitality of Michigan’s domestic birds:

— Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing them indoors or ensuring their outdoor area is fully enclosed.

— Wash your hands before and after handling birds as well as when moving between different coops.

— Disinfect boots and other gear when moving between coops.

— Do not share equipment or other supplies between coops or other farms.

— Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses. If it cannot be disinfected, discard it.

— Keep poultry feed secure to ensure there is no contact between the feed/feed ingredients and wild birds or rodents.

Poultry owners and caretakers should watch for unusual deaths, a drop in egg production, a significant decrease in water consumption, or an increase in sick birds. If avian influenza is suspected, contact MDARD immediately at 800-292-3939 (daytime) or 517-373-0440 (after-hours).

This year’s outbreak of bird flu is the biggest since 2015, when producers had to kill more than 50 million birds. So far this year, there have been cases in 24 states, with Iowa the hardest hit with about 13 million chickens and turkeys killed. Other states with sizable outbreaks include Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Indiana.