High Path H5N1 AI
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 3:29 pm
Feb. 9, 2022
First Case of HPAI in US hits Indiana Commercial Flock
Today, the USDA APHIS announced that samples taken on Monday, Feb. 7th in a commercial turkey flock in southern Dubois county in south west Indiana, were confirmed positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United States since 2020. High Path AI was last identified in commercial flocks in Indiana in 2016.
According to information received at a USDA/APHIS webcast, the 29,000-bird flock consists of 130 day-old tom turkeys. One barn on the 4 barn premises experienced sudden quietness and 100 mortalities. By end of today (Wednesday), the owner will have completed depopulation under government oversight. Quarantines and movement control are in place. The 10 km radius control zone includes 17 other flocks, all commercial turkey except one layer operation. All of these flocks have tested negative for the virus. 37 registered small flocks are also being tested.
Since H5N1 is potentially zoonotic, public health authorities are monitoring employee health.
State authorities confirmed they are using an Incident Command System response structure.
The USDA has reported 91 wild bird HPAI H5N1 detections since the middle of January. All of these hunter-harvested healthy birds were detected along the Atlantic Flyway on the eastern seaboard: 61 in North Carolina, 24 in South Carolina, 3 in Virginia, 2 in Florida. Most recently a live wild bird in Maryland also tested positive. In light of case in Indiana, the USDA plans to expand wild bird surveillance into the Mississippi and Central flyways.
No new HPAI cases have been reported in Canada since the Feb 3 announcement related to the commercial turkey flock in Nova Scotia. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Authorities and Principles of Control is an excellent reference for understanding government response actions during an AI outbreak. The Feb 4 FBCC Biosecurity Advisory is worth reviewing as all poultry growers are strongly advised to reinforce their biosecurity.
First Case of HPAI in US hits Indiana Commercial Flock
Today, the USDA APHIS announced that samples taken on Monday, Feb. 7th in a commercial turkey flock in southern Dubois county in south west Indiana, were confirmed positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United States since 2020. High Path AI was last identified in commercial flocks in Indiana in 2016.
According to information received at a USDA/APHIS webcast, the 29,000-bird flock consists of 130 day-old tom turkeys. One barn on the 4 barn premises experienced sudden quietness and 100 mortalities. By end of today (Wednesday), the owner will have completed depopulation under government oversight. Quarantines and movement control are in place. The 10 km radius control zone includes 17 other flocks, all commercial turkey except one layer operation. All of these flocks have tested negative for the virus. 37 registered small flocks are also being tested.
Since H5N1 is potentially zoonotic, public health authorities are monitoring employee health.
State authorities confirmed they are using an Incident Command System response structure.
The USDA has reported 91 wild bird HPAI H5N1 detections since the middle of January. All of these hunter-harvested healthy birds were detected along the Atlantic Flyway on the eastern seaboard: 61 in North Carolina, 24 in South Carolina, 3 in Virginia, 2 in Florida. Most recently a live wild bird in Maryland also tested positive. In light of case in Indiana, the USDA plans to expand wild bird surveillance into the Mississippi and Central flyways.
No new HPAI cases have been reported in Canada since the Feb 3 announcement related to the commercial turkey flock in Nova Scotia. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Authorities and Principles of Control is an excellent reference for understanding government response actions during an AI outbreak. The Feb 4 FBCC Biosecurity Advisory is worth reviewing as all poultry growers are strongly advised to reinforce their biosecurity.