The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial backyard flock in Warren County, Iowa. The flock has been depopulated.
The USDA has not reported how many birds have been affected.
Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds, says the USDA. The department has a list of tools producers can use to help with biosecurity measures.
APHIS is working closely with state animal health officials on joint incident responses. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the properties will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flocks will not enter the food system.
To date, 12,213,550 reported birds have been affected by HPAI.
PREVIOUS CASES
Connecticut
New London County
155 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Delaware
New Castle County
1,146,937 commercial poultry
265,000 commercial pullets
Illinois
McLean County
35 non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry)
Indiana
Dubois County
16,494 commercial turkeys
35,988 commercial turkeys
26,625 commercial turkeys
29,015 commercial turkeys
Greene County
48,211 commercial turkeys
15,400 commercial turkeys
Iowa
Pottawattamie County
42 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Buena Vista County
49,816 commercial turkeys
3.5 million commercial layers
Taylor County
915,925 commercial layers
Kansas
Franklin County
264 backyard mixed species
Kentucky
Fulton County
231,398 commercial broiler chickens
Webster County
53,286 commercial turkeys
Maine
Knox County
96 backyard pet chickens (non-poultry)
27 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Lincoln County
70 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
York County
173 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Maryland
Cecil County
664,061 commercial layer
496,272 commercial layer
Queen Anne’s County
150,000 commercial broiler chickens
Michigan
Kalamazoo County
43 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Missouri
Stoddard County
360,000 commercial broiler chickens
Bates County
51 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Jasper County
25,015 commercial turkeys
Lawrence County
37,770 commercial turkeys
Ralls County
75 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Nebraska
Merrick County
90 non-commercial backyard (non-poultry)
New Hampshire
Rockingham County
non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry)
New York
Suffolk County
8 backyard pet chickens (non-poultry)
Ulster County
65 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Dutchess County
195 captive wild birds (non-poultry)
South Dakota
Charles Mix County
47,330 commercial mixed species
36,000 commercial turkeys
Virginia
Fauquier County
90 backyard mixed species (non-poultry)
Wisconsin
Jefferson County
2,757,800 commercial layer chickens
Signs of avian influenza include: birds dying without clinical signs; lack of energy; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of the head, eyelids, comb, and hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea. The USDA has a resource with images to help identify discoloration and other clinical signs.
If farmers have a bird they believe has passed away because of avian influenza, state officials encourage them to double bag the bird and refrigerate to preserve it for testing.
Avian influenza is not a foodborne illness and does not pose a food-safety risk.