# 9897
On the heels of yesterday morning’s dual announcement from APHIS (see H5N2 Confirmed In South Dakota, 4th Farm Hit In Minnesota) the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published two additional reports late yesterday afternoon, with news of new outbreaks in states already hit by HPAI H5.
First up, another turkey farm in Minnesota has been hit by the virus; the second outbreak for Stearns County (see USDA: 3rd Minnesota Turkey Farm Hit By H5N2) reported in less than a week.
Last Modified: Apr 2, 2015
CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2015 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a second commercial turkey flock in Stearns County, Minnesota. This is the fifth confirmation in a commercial flock in Minnesota. The flock of 71,000 turkeys is located within the Mississippi flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.
Samples from the turkey flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the findings. APHIS is working closely with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.
The second announcement comes out of Montana, which just last Tuesday announced the detection of H5N2 in a captive falcon who had fed on a wild duck near Columbia Falls (see HPAI H5N2 In Montana Falcon). Yesterday APHIS reported a backyard flock of mixed poultry was hit in Flathead county, roughly 400 miles south and east of the state’s first case (see map below).
Here is the APHIS statement on the 2nd Montana detection.
USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Backyard Flock in Montana
Last Modified: Apr 2, 2015
CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2015 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard mixed-poultry flock in Judith Basin County, Montana. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.
Samples from the flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. APHIS is working closely with the Montana Department of Livestock to respond to the finding. State officials quarantined the affected premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
We continue to see a remarkably rapid spread of HPAI H5N2 across the country, and while it has not yet been shown to present a human health hazard, it is increasingly impacting the poultry industry.
Stay tuned.
