No new infections found in the past 24 hours
Operations to halt the spread of avian influenza continue in northeastern Dubois County.
The Indiana State Board of Animal Health announced there were no new positive tests overnight, but aggressive testing continues inside the 10-km control area.
In the last 24 hours, 114 commercial farms have tested negative for influenza; 62 in the control area and 52 in the added surveillance zone.
The surveillance area is an additional 10-kilometer control area established beyond the 10-km control zone. It has been put in place as a precaution, according to officials. The surveillance zone includes parts of Crawford, Daviess, Martin and Orange counties. All infected sites are in Dubois County.
Birds have been humanely euthanized on seven premises, with another three premises currently underway. The depopulated turkeys will be composted in the buildings in which they euthanized. The composting process takes about three weeks, after which time, the compost can be used agriculturally because it will not contain the virus.
The depopulated turkeys will be composted in the buildings in which they euthanized. The composting process takes about three weeks, after which time, the compost can be used agriculturally because it will not contain the virus.
An additional 155,000 hens (chickens) that are not infected with H7N8 have been depopulated and disposed of in a landfill. The building shares a vehicular traffic zone with the original site. No chickens are infected.
The total number of birds affected so far are 245,163 total commercial turkeys and 156,000 commercial chickens (egg layers).
State and federal teams have visited 1,248 residences in a 10-kilometer radius control zone around the original site to search for small, backyard flocks of birds for precautionary monitoring and testing. A total of 46 backyard flocks have been found, and sampling is in progress.
Several mental health treatment options available to those affected:
– Phone hotline offered by Southern Hills Counseling Center in Jasper, at 812-482-3020. If the call is made after hours, the caller should press 0.
– A 24-hour phone hotline through Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center, at 812-827-6222.
– Daily group sessions are available at the command post from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at the staging area from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be provided as long as needed.
State response:
A total of 182 state, federal and local responders are working in Dubois county on surveillance and response efforts.
A Unified Incident Command Post (UCP) has been established in Jasper, Indiana. The post is staffed by a state Incident Management Team, along with federal and local partners.
State Agencies supporting activities in the UCP: The State Board of Animal Health, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Correction, Indiana State Police and mental health services teams from the Family and Social Services Administration.
Other organizations supporting activities in the UCP: United States Department of Agriculture, Indiana University, Dubois County Emergency Management Agency and Dubois County Health Department and the Indiana Civil Air Patrol.
State Emergency Operations Center: Under the leadership of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), the Indiana Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated at Level III and will remain activated 24 hours a day to monitor conditions and provide resource support to local county emergency agencies.
State Agencies supporting activities in the EOC: State Board of Animal Health, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Indiana Department of Correction.
Other organizations supporting activities in the EOC: Purdue Extension
Federal response:
The United States Department of Agriculture has approximately 50 representatives, along with private contractors, in Dubois County assisting with state and local efforts. A National Incident Management Team will be arriving in Indiana this weekend to help coordinate efforts.
Public Advisory:
Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Officials are not aware of any public health significance with this virus. Human infection from an H7 virus is uncommon, but can cause some conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms. Human health agencies will be monitoring workers and others in contact with birds to monitor for illness.
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; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird health information is online at: http://www.healthybirds.aphis.usda. gov.
Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm. Users may subscribe to email updates on a link at that page.
