Over 60,000 turkeys impacted by Avian Influenza in Dubois

(Update 5:25 p.m.) Statement by Farbest

As a result of our ongoing screening and surveillance testing of avian influenza and other poultry diseases in turkey flocks according to the National Poultry Improvement Plan protocols, a form of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza H7N8 has been detected in turkeys located in Dubois County. This is the first finding of HPAI in commercial turkeys in the State of Indiana.

Farbest Farms, Inc. and the turkey industry are working closely with State and Federal officials to keep the public informed and to be sure the best possible steps are being taken to protect the public and animal health. Federal and State officials will be working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area, following the existing avian influenza response plan for Indiana.

Samples from the affected flock were tested initially by Farbest Farms, Inc., then confirmatory testing was done by the Avian Diagnostic Lab at Purdue University and those findings have been confirmed by the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. APHIS and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health have initiated the incident command response, and APHIS will assist in depopulating the remaining birds on the farm to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the affected flock have not and will not enter the food system.

We can assure the public that there has been no impact on the safety of our food products. The Center for Disease Control considers the risk to people from this HPAI H7N8 infection to be low. The quick detection by our surveillance protocol has worked as intended and will help to protect our flocks and keep our food safe.

For more information about the ongoing avian influenza disease incident in the United States visit the APHIS website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov and/or contact Denise Derrer at the Indiana Board of Animal Health at 317-544-2414.

Ted J. Seger
President

(Update 3:57 p.m) “We understand that people are concerned,” said Donna Oeding, Dubois County Health Director. “We are working closely with state and federal partners to prevent the spread of avian flu and protect those who work with poultry in Dubois County and across the state.  Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. The Centers for Disease Control considers the risk of illness to humans to be very low.”

(Update 3:30 p.m.) The farm impacted by the avian flu is operated by Steve and Dan Kalb.

The farm has been raising turkeys since 1977.

(Update) According to Denise Derrer with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, so far, only a single farm in Dubois was found to have the avian flu virus.

The farm has over 60,000 turkeys housed in 10 barns on the site but only one barn was found to have the virus present. Derrer said that since many of the turkeys are exported out of the country, the farm and state have to honor international trade agreements that require that all the birds be euthanized.

State officials are also contacting other turkey operations in the area to test their populations for the virus. So, far those tests have not turned up any other signs of the infection.

Derrer added that they will be completing an epidemiological study of the infection to potentially learn how it spread to the turkeys.

(Original) The avian flu has been found in turkeys in Dubois County.

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

According to Ken Eck, this is a larger outbreak than was found in Whitley County, Ind. in May.

“This is big thing. It was a big thing when they found 77 birds with it up north,” Eck said. “This is a pretty big thing for a county that is known as a poultry producer.”

According to the State Board of Animal Health, 60,000 birds have been affected.

On Thursday, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) was notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory that poultry from a commercial turkey farm in Dubois County has tested positive for highly pathogenic H7N8 avian influenza.

A company veterinarian delivered samples from the flock to the laboratory for testing, after several hundred birds died.

“This finding of highly pathogenic H7N8 is unique to Indiana and the nation,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM. “This strain is unrelated to those identified in the Upper Midwest in 2015, nor is it related to the HPAI case identified in a Northeastern Indiana backyard poultry flock that was affected last May.”

Dubois County lies in the Mississippi flyway, a migratory path for birds. As birds carrying influenza pass through their droppings can infect local domestic birds. These wild birds do not necessarily show signs of the flu but when turkeys become infected they can become lethargic and suffer from coughing and sneezing within a three- to four-day period.

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 www.healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

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.

UPDATES and INFORMATION:

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.

This marks the first case of HPAI in Indiana in 2016. While the disease was found on 219 sites in 16 states in the United States last year, Indiana had only one backyard flock of 76 birds affected in 2015. This event marks the first case in a commercial flock in Indiana.

Indiana’s poultry industry ranks fourth nationally in turkey production, first in duck production, third in eggs, and is a significant producer of broiler chickens. The poultry industry employs more than 14,000 Hoosiers and is valued at $2.5 billion.

The last infection reported on the U.S. Department of Agricultural website was in June of 2015.

WITZ AM/FM contributed to this report