The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported positive results for a homeowner’s flock on Feb. 26.

The Vineyard’s first cases of avian flu found in dead birds last week have Island officials urging the community to do its part to stop the spread of the disease. 

The turkeys found dead in Edgartown earlier this month have preliminarily tested positive for avian flu, marking the first cases known to be on the Island.

Twenty wild turkeys were found dead in the Smith Hollow neighborhood in Edgartown over the weekend and officials suspect bird flu was the culprit.

Avian flu is inching closer to the Vineyard and while no cases have been detected here yet, officials suspect the virus could already be on-Island.

State environmental officials said Wednesday that they now “strongly suspect” that avian influenza is responsible for the death of large numbers of seabirds washing up on Island shores.