# 10,042
Yesterday it was Indiana, today Nebraska is added to the growing list of states reporting HPAI H5 with a layer farm in Dixon, County reportedly testing positive for H5N2. Roughly 1.7 million birds are affected by this first detection in the state of Nebraska.
Credit Wikipedia
Dixon county is located in the far northeastern part of the state, bordering South Dakota, and about 30 miles west of Sioux City, Iowa.
This from APHIS.
USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Dixon County, Nebraska
Published: May 12, 2015
CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low
WASHINGTON, May 12, 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 commercial layer flock in Dixon County, Nebraska. The flock of 1.7 million chickens is located within the Central 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 chicken flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the South Dakota State University Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa confirmed the findings. NVSL is the only internationally recognized AI reference laboratory in the United States. APHIS is working closely with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the 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 Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure that they are taking the proper precautions. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.
