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USDA APHIS urges stronger biosecurity in Indiana

Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to impact poultry producers in Indiana, and a USDA veterinarian says the agency is closely monitoring the outbreak.

Dr. Chelsey Shivley with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says northern Indiana has been a hot spot for HPAI detections.

“Indiana right now has a number of cases we’re actively addressing,” she said Wednesday morning.

The state’s board of animal health has reported more than 100,000 birds have been impacted by the virus just this month. All infected birds are depopulated.

Shivley tells Brownfield wild birds have been actively migrating across the state.

“This virus goes where we see poultry. There’s a lot of poultry in Indiana and that’s where we’re seeing a lot of cases,” she said. “The migratory waterfowl in all of the different flyways across the United States have been found to carry this virus.”

Indiana ranks among the top producing states of eggs, poultry, and poultry products. Shivley says the USDA has resources available to help producers strengthen biosecurity protocols.

“USDA has the Defend the Flock resource center where we have checklists, videos, toolkits, webinars and more. Additionally, we offer free voluntary biosecurity assessments to producers with 500 or more birds.”

She says USDA can cover up to 75% of costs associated with addressing the highest-risk biosecurity gaps identified through voluntary assessments.

AUDIO INTERVIEW: Dr. Chelsey Shivley