The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said the H5N1 strain of avian influenza was detected in a noncommercial flock in southern Washington County. RIDEM said that it euthanized 40 birds in order to “minimize their suffering from the infection and prevent the spread of the disease to other birds.

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.

Public health officials in Philadelphia reported the first suspected case of bird flu in the city on Wednesday after a sick goose found in a West Philadelphia neighborhood was positive for the disease in preliminary tests.