Wisconsin Ag Connection - Another Two Bird Flu Cases Reported in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Ag News Headlines

Another Two Bird Flu Cases Reported in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/23/2015

A pair of Wisconsin poultry operations are the latest to be infected with the H5 avian influenza virus. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture confirmed that an 87,000 bird turkey flock in Chippewa County and an 800,000 bird egg-laying chicken farm in Jefferson County are the latest reported incidents in the state in less than two weeks.

The affected properties have been quarantined and neighboring poultry facilities have been notified about the situation, state animal health officials say.

"While lethal to domestic poultry, the strain of virus detected is not known to have caused disease in humans and is not expected to pose a risk to public health or the food supply," the agency repeated on Wednesday.

The H5 avian influenza virus was first detected in Wisconsin at a commercial chicken flock in Jefferson County on April 13, which led to the depopulation of more than 180,000 egg-laying chickens. Since then two additional flocks were detected in Barron and Juneau counties bringing the total of birds to more than 310,000 in Wisconsin.

Earlier this week, State Veterinarian Dr. Paul McGraw issued a ban on poultry movement to shows, exhibitions and swap meets in Jefferson, Juneau and Barron counties. Chippewa county was added to that list on Wednesday.

Multiple outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred most recently in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, the Dakotas and Kansas leading to the depopulation of more than a million turkeys and chickens since January.

Other Wisconsin Headlines