Bird flu has eased. Merced County Fair can again host competitions
A decline in bird flu cases means California’s county fairs can once again have poultry and dairy cattle shows.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced Friday, Jan. 16, that it was lifting the ban it imposed last January.
Dozens of 4-H and FFA members in Merced County had to keep their animals at home during the 2025 fair. This year’s version of the Merced County fair will run June 10-14.
The fair posts information on its livestock exhibits at www.mercedcountyfair.com/livestock-exhibits.
What is bird flu?
Avian influenza mainly affects chickens and turkeys, but dairy cattle and humans can get sick, too. The concern is not so great with beef cattle because they do not require close daily contact.
The Northern San Joaquin Valley ranks among the nation’s top producers of milk, poultry meat and eggs. These businesses have had their share of the H5N1 virus outbreaks around the nation since 2022.
At dairy farms, infected cows can be isolated while the rest of the herd remains in production. An outbreak in a chicken or turkey flock requires killing thousands of animals and starting over.
California poultry farms had 646,700 sickened birds in January 2025, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The current month has 34,670 so far. The state’s last dairy farm outbreak was Nov. 26.
California has reported 37 infected dairy workers since 2022, and another person whose transmission source was unknown. All had mild symptoms.
How can backyard poultry owners help?
The CDFA has safety advice for backyard poultry, including non-members of 4-H and FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America):
- Keep the flock in a screened enclosure to protect it from wild birds that can transmit bird flu and other diseases.
- Isolate newly purchased birds for 30 days before adding them to the flock.
- Obtain poultry from “reputable disease-free sources that practice good biosecurity methods.”
- Purchase feed from “clean, dependable suppliers” and keep it in containers that resist birds, rodents and insects.
- Do not allow people who own other birds to come in contact with yours.
- Do not transport fowl to county fairs and other events if they show signs of disease.
- Report infections to a veterinarian and to the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-2473.
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 1:48 PM with the headline "Bird flu has eased. Merced County Fair can again host competitions."
