Colorado Governor Memorializes Avian Flu Disaster Declaration

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Governor Jared Polis has memorialized a verbal declaration of a state of emergency due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in Weld County, Colorado. The declaration will provide $200,000 in funding from the Disaster Emergency Fund to cover statewide monitoring, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts related to the outbreak over the next six years.

Why it matters

The HPAI outbreak in Colorado has led to the culling of over 1.3 million chickens at a commercial egg farm, as well as the detection of the virus in backyard flocks in multiple counties. The disaster declaration and funding will help the state closely monitor the spread of the disease and coordinate a comprehensive response to protect poultry and public health.

The details

The verbal declaration was made on January 29 by Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera following a presumptive positive test for HPAI at a commercial egg farm in Weld County. While the response in Weld County has concluded, the state has since detected the virus in backyard flocks in Boulder and Logan counties, leading to additional quarantine orders. The $200,000 in funding will be available for six years to cover ongoing disease monitoring, mitigation efforts, and recovery activities.

• The verbal declaration was made on January 29, 2026.
• The avian flu response in Weld County concluded on February 10, 2026.
• HPAI was detected in backyard flocks in Boulder County on February 5, 2026 and in Weld and Logan counties on February 11-12, 2026.

What’s next

The quarantine orders in Weld and Logan counties will remain in effect until the Colorado Department of Agriculture modifies or lifts them, as the state continues to monitor for any further spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza.