The Department of Environmental Management says avian flu has been detected in a non-commercial backyard flock in Washington County.

On Friday, members of the DEM's Division of Agriculture and Forest Management's Animal Health Unit humanely euthanized a flock of around 40 birds infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

Rhode Island officials on Friday afternoon confirmed the presence of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in a noncommercial farm flock in southern Washington County. The state Department of Environmental Management said in a statement that department staff euthanized about 40 birds earlier Friday “to minimize their suffering from the infection and prevent the spread of the disease to other birds.