By Blake Jackson
Veterinary experts are urging both commercial poultry producers and backyard flock owners to strengthen protective measures as bird flu cases rise during the spring migration season.
Recent federal data shows Wisconsin has recorded the second-highest number of birds impacted by highly pathogenic avian influenza in the past month. Nationwide, more than 14.3 million birds across 84 flocks have been infected. Experts say the primary source of infection is contact with wild birds moving through migration routes.
“With the increased exposure, we do see an uptick or increase in cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza,” said Alan Huddleston of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. “This spring, we are seeing that same pattern as we have seen since the outbreak first began.”
Since the current strain was first identified in 2022, the outbreak has affected around 200 million birds across more than 2,100 flocks nationwide, marking the largest such event in U.S. history. Wisconsin alone has seen over 11.6 million birds impacted during that period, with more than 4.3 million currently affected.
“We’re definitely entering a period of increased concern, where we’re concerned that the risk from wild birds sharing this virus with domestic birds is higher than it was in the previous months,” said Heather Roney of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Officials stress that strong biosecurity practices remain the most effective defense. These include daily cleaning of equipment, disinfecting footwear, limiting contact between species, and monitoring birds for signs of illness.
Despite improved farm protocols, the continued presence of the virus in wild bird populations has led to ongoing risks.
“There is an ongoing and/or continuous exposure to the virus that we did not see in the 2015, or earlier, outbreaks,” Huddleston said.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-wikoski
Categories: Wisconsin, Livestock, Poultry