Wayne County has its first confirmed case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, state officials reported Friday. The "bird flu" virus was first detected in Michigan in 2022; and has been the focus of attention in recent weeks both in the state and across the country.

State officials said they've discovered the first case of the highly infectious H5N1 bird flu virus in a backyard flock in Wayne County. In a press release issued Thursday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development did not specify how many birds were infected, what species was involved or in which community they were located.

For the first time, birds in a Wayne County backyard flock have been sickened by the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, MDARD reported.