Nine more Dubois farms impacted by Avian Influenza

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) announces nine more commercial turkey farms in Dubois County have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. This brings the total to 10 commercial turkey operations. Further testing is underway to determine the virus type.

All positive flocks are located within the original control area, and were identified by surveillance testing. New 10 km circles have been drawn, to expand the control area slightly beyond Dubois County into Martin, Orange, Crawford and Davies counties.

Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk of illness to humans to be very low.

Poultry flocks in the surrounding area are being tested daily for the presence of avian influenza. State and federal agencies are working alongside the poultry operations to minimize the impact and eliminate the disease.

Depopulation activities are underway on most of the sites. Depopulation of the index site was completed this morning. All infected flocks are located in Dubois County, Indiana.

REPORTING

Backyard poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing.

Signs include: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird health information is online at: http://www.healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

UPDATES and INFORMATION:

Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: http://www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm . Users may subscribe to email updates on a link at that page.