Puerto Rico Confirms Bird Flu in Two Towns
Puerto Rico’s Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, that tests found highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called bird flu, on two properties. The cases are in Cabo Rojo and Lajas, and they mark a Puerto Rico bird flu outbreak that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now helping to track.
Puerto Rico is a US territory, so its animal-health alerts matter to American readers. Its residents are US citizens, and federal veterinarians work alongside local officials.
Laboratory tests confirmed the virus after suspected cases were reported on 9 October. The department rates the risk to the general public as low.
Key Facts
—Who. Puerto Rico’s Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary Irving Rodríguez Torres, with USDA-APHIS and the Department of Health.
—What. Laboratory-confirmed HPAI, a highly pathogenic bird flu, on two properties with domestic birds.
—Where. The municipalities of Cabo Rojo and Lajas, Puerto Rico.
—When. Announced on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. Quarantine order dated 10 October.
—Quarantine. 120 days on both properties, with a ban on moving birds.
—Public risk. Low for the general public, according to the department.
—Status. As of 13 October 2026, 12:45 GMT
What We Know
The Department of Agriculture announced the results on Tuesday. PCR tests, which detect a virus’s genetic material, confirmed HPAI at both sites.
On the Cabo Rojo property, about 20 Creole ducks have died, out of 35 birds kept there. Veterinarians visited that property on Wednesday, 7 October.
On the Lajas property, about 30 guinea fowl and other species have died. The total number of birds kept there is not known.
Administrative Order No. 2026-25, dated 10 October, set the quarantine. It runs for 120 days on both properties.
Birds may not leave either property. Owners must clean and disinfect, control staff access, disinfect shoes and equipment, and accept regular inspections.
The department first reported the suspected cases on Friday, 9 October. It placed one Cabo Rojo property under precautionary quarantine while labs worked.
Rodríguez Torres said the results would let officials step up surveillance, biosecurity and control measures. Biosecurity means the practical steps that keep disease out of animal premises.
The department is coordinating with USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services and the Department of Health. APHIS is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture.
Officials say the main concern is spread to commercial poultry farms and to small home flocks. The department rates the risk to the public as low, but higher for people in direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surroundings.
This is not the first bird flu detection on the island. USDA-APHIS reported on 13 January 2025 the first HPAI case in domestic birds in Puerto Rico since the outbreak began in February 2022.
That earlier case involved backyard flocks. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the public health risk from bird detections is low.
Ducks, guinea fowl and other domestic birds can fall ill with the virus. Wild birds can also carry it, which is why keeping the two groups apart matters.
What Is Not Known
The origin of the infection is not known. Investigators are examining migratory birds as a possible source, but that is unconfirmed.
It is not yet known whether other properties are affected. The final number of birds lost in Lajas is also unknown.
The effects on egg or poultry prices, on travel and on supply chains are not known. None of the reports we reviewed describes any such impact.
No human case is mentioned in the reports we reviewed. The department’s risk assessment refers only to the general population and to people in close contact with sick birds.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
Puerto Rico is part of the United States, and US citizens need no passport check when they travel there from the mainland. The announcement mentions no travel restrictions.
The department rates the risk to the general public as low. It is higher for people who handle infected birds or touch contaminated places.
Officials ask residents not to touch, collect or move sick or dead birds. They also advise keeping domestic birds apart from wild birds.
To report sick or dead birds, call USDA-APHIS on 1-866-536-7593 or the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture on 787-721-2120.
USDA advises cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). It is a general food-safety precaution, not a response to this outbreak.
Quarantines like this one are designed to contain a virus before it reaches larger flocks. Officials say preventing spread to commercial poultry farms is their main concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Puerto Rico confirm about bird flu?
Puerto Rico’s Department of Agriculture announced confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza on 13 October 2026. The cases are on two properties in Cabo Rojo and Lajas.
Is the Puerto Rico bird flu a risk to people?
The department rates the risk to the general public as low. It is higher for people in direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surroundings.
What should people do if they find a sick or dead bird?
Do not touch, collect or move it. Report it to USDA-APHIS on 1-866-536-7593 or to the Department of Agriculture on 787-721-2120.
How long is the quarantine in Cabo Rojo and Lajas?
The quarantine lasts 120 days on both properties under Administrative Order No. 2026-25. Birds cannot be moved, and owners must follow cleaning and access rules.
Sources
El Nuevo Día · Primera Hora · Metro Puerto Rico · USDA APHIS
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief