Sacramento County Bird-Flu Alert: What Herald Backyard Poultry Owners Should Know

HERALD, California — Owners of backyard chickens, ducks and other poultry in Herald should review a new Sacramento County health advisory after highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in two backyard flocks elsewhere in the county. Sacramento County Public Health and the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures issued the alert October 29, 2026.

What officials have confirmed

The California Department of Food and Agriculture confirmed the first affected flock on October 5 and a second on October 23. County officials say birds in the two affected flocks were culled to reduce transmission. They have not identified Herald as the location of either flock in the public announcement. CDFA had not imposed countywide poultry movement restrictions as of the notice. The overall public-health risk was described as low.

Steps for rural poultry keepers

The county advises keeping domestic birds separated from wild birds where possible, preventing wild birds from reaching poultry feed and water, cleaning housing and equipment, and changing or disinfecting shoes and clothing when moving between flocks. Owners should monitor birds for unusual deaths, respiratory difficulties, reduced appetite or changes in movement or behavior.

Report unusual illness or deaths to CDFA’s Sick Animal Hotline: 866-922-2473. Do not handle sick or dead wild birds; seek advice from appropriate animal-control or wildlife authorities. People who may have been exposed and become ill should contact a healthcare professional.

Herald is a rural community where backyard poultry and other small agricultural operations can benefit from practical biosecurity precautions. This is a countywide alert, not evidence of a local outbreak in Herald.

Primary source: Sacramento County, October 29, 2026 — Bird Flu Confirmed in Two Backyard Poultry Flocks.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Herald News grow Help strengthen reporting on Herald: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Herald News

Choose how to support Herald News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Herald News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Herald News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.