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HPAI detected in Wisconsin turkey flock

Wisconsin has a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a poultry flock.

State Veterinarian Darlene Konkle says 13,507 turkeys are affected on a farm in Barron County. She says, “DATCP animal health officials are working with USDA animal health officials to respond to that detection in a joint response.”

Konkle says further testing of the virus is underway. “We do not have sequencing information on this particular strain just yet, but we know that it’s an H5 and we anticipate that it is of that same strain that has been circulating.”

Konkle says the affected premises has been quarantined and will not move poultry or poultry products. “The birds will be depopulated to help prevent the spread of disease and birds from the flock will not enter the food system.”

Iowa has three new HPAI poultry cases in the past week.  Konkel says there have been more cases of avian influenza in poultry nationwide. “In the past 30 days, USDA has confirmed 95 flocks with high-path AI in ten different states, so our information from Wisconsin will be added to the USDA website in the coming days once it’s confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories.”

Konkle says producers should continue to practice enhanced biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Wisconsin’s last case of the H5N1 virus in poultry was January 4^th in Washburn County.  So far, Wisconsin has no cases of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle or other livestock.