More than 154,000 turkeys have been depopulated in Indiana alone
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Multiple states are experiencing avian flu outbreaks.
In Indiana, for example, five turkey farms have confirmed cases of avian influenza.
Officials confirmed the first case in the state on Feb. 9.
Three premises are in Dubois County. Of those, two have confirmed cases of H5N1. Results on the other premises are pending.
The two other locations are in Greene County. Which strains of avian flu is present on those farms is unknown.
Between the five locations, 154,781 turkeys have been depopulated.
On Feb. 14, the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in two other states.
Officials confirmed the cases in a flock of commercial broiler chickens in Fulton County, Ky., and a non-poultry backyard flock in Fauquier County, Va.
Both flocks were depopulated to prevent further spread.
It has since been confirmed the broiler flock of about 240,000 chickens belonged to Tyson Foods.
The company is working with authorities to prevent further spread and is ramping up its safety measures, Gary Mickelson, a Tyson spokesperson, told Reuters.
Then, on Feb. 19, the USDA confirmed another case of avian influenza in a non-commercial backyard poultry flock in Suffolk County, N.Y.
State officials quarantined the premises, and the birds, which were depopulated to prevent further spread in New York.
And on Feb. 23, test results from the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the USDA confirmed cases of avian flu on a commercial poultry farm in that state.
Like the other affected farms, it is under quarantine and the flock will be depopulated.
“We have taken immediate action to contain this disease and will continue to work with poultry owners, the industry, and our laboratory partners to protect against its spread,” Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse said in a statement. “This appears to be an isolated case, with no reports of disease among our chicken industry. Delmarva poultry is safe to eat, and consumers can be confident in the safety of their food.”
The Delmarva Chicken Association is the 1,600-member trade association of the meat chicken industry in Delaware and parts of Maryland and Virginia.