February, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory recently found highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in turkeys tested from a commercial farm in Indiana. As a result, the premises were quarantined and the flock depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed HPAI in wild birds in several states in the Atlantic Flyway in January 2022, along with the turkey flock in Indiana. HPAI surveillance in wild bird populations has increased to include the Mississippi and Central Flyways, and enlarged the existing program in the Atlantic and Pacific Flyways.
Avian influenza does not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.
As a precautionary measure, poultry producers ranging from backyard birds to large, commercial operations should be on the alert for detection of sick or dead poultry, including wild birds, chickens and turkeys. View the resources below for information about practicing good poultry disease prevention.
HPAI Webinar
Georgia Poultry Lab Network Executive Director Dr. Louise Dufour-Zavala discusses avian influenza in North America and globally, and also covers signs and symptoms, biosecurity, reporting, and more.
Resources
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza disease description & information
- Prevent Avian Influenza on Your Farm (PDF)
- Defend the Flock Resource Center – information for practicing good biosecurity including checklists, resource guides, videos, and other tools.
- Mass Mortality Composting Videos – a series providing an overview of mass poultry mortality composting. The videos are intended for use as educational tools for the poultry industry, state and federal agencies, and emergency response contractors.
- Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture Poultry Biosecurity – detailed management strategies to prevent, detect and and respond to diseases in poultry.
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