Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Massachusetts

08:36AM / Saturday, March 09, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' (MDAR) Division of Animal Health is informing the public that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in Essex County.

MDAR recently depopulated and disposed of a non-commercial, backyard flock (poultry) in Essex County, Massachusetts, due to HPAI. Birds on the affected premises exhibited clinical signs consistent with HPAI, and samples tested positive for the disease.

MDAR urges backyard and commercial poultry owners to practice strong biosecurity measures to prevent domestic poultry from coming into contact with wild birds, their feathers, and droppings. The HPAI virus is circulating in the wild bird population, particularly in wild waterfowl. Eliminating standing water and preventing domestic birds from having access to ponds, streams, and wetland areas that attract wild waterfowl is critical. Allowing domesticated flocks the ability to roam freely poses substantial and elevated risk of exposure to HPAI and should be avoided or the consequences can be deadly.

REPORT sick or dead birds

Domestic birds: 617-626-1795 or online Poultry Disease Reporting Form: https://www.mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-form

Wild birds: Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)

https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds

For more information regarding HPAI, visit MDAR's Avian Influenza?webpage.

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New Pittsfield City Council, School Committee Meets

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:25PM / Sunday, January 18, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new City Council and School Committee met for the first time last week, and were met with some hope from the public.

The council is largely the same as the last term, with Cameron Cunningham now representing Ward 2 and Kathy Moody Ward 7. On the other hand, the School Committee is all new aside from longtime member Daniel Elias.

Resident Paul Gregory, a regular at public comment, told the council, "I stand here tonight, I'm excited. I'm not complaining." Gregory said that with challenges come opportunities, and he is confident that the elected officials are up for it.

"I'm really, really looking forward to the leadership and the roles that each of you will play in order to bring out the best that Pittsfield is and can be," he said.

"We need to stress our values as a city. We need to recognize and identify why people should live in this city and what opportunities there are both for entertainment, for employment, and for activities."

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III was elected council president during the inauguration ceremony earlier this month, and Mayor Peter Marchetti was elected to chair the School Committee. During the committee's meeting on Wednesday, Marchetti noted that this would be the last time "communication by the chair" will be placed on the agenda because he will deliver comments as other members do.

United Educators of Pittsfield President Jeanne Lemmond, also offered well wishes to the School Committee.

"It's going to be an interesting time working with so many new faces, and the UEP is looking forward to a very positive working relationship with you as we go into negotiations and any other business that we bring forward to you," she said.

Gregory, who also addressed the School Committee, hopes they work collaboratively to support each other, especially with the district's "ambitious" efforts to restructure the middle school levels and build a new school in the West Side.

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