States & Provinces with Confirmed HPAI H5
# 15,016
Last night I reported on two more Minnesota farms presumed to be infected with the H5N2 virus, but we’ve two reports filed a bit later in the evening that add to yesterday’s bird flu information. First , Jim Wappes of CIDRAP NEWS has an excellent round up of the day’s avian influenza news, followed by the latest report out of hard-hit Iowa.
H5N2 suspected on 5 more Iowa, Minnesota farms
Jim Wappes | Editorial Director | CIDRAP News
May 05, 2015
Courtesy of Minnesota Board of Animal Health
Officials in Iowa and Minnesota today reported five more likely outbreaks of H5N2 avian flu, while a Minnesota turkey company announced H5N2-related layoffs and federal officials freed up $330 million for response efforts.
The outbreaks in Iowa involve two turkey farms and a chicken laying operation of 60,000 hens, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) said today. Initial tests showed that birds on all three operations tested positive for the H5 strain of avian flu, and confirmatory tests from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, are pending.
Both turkey farms are in Buena Vista County in northwestern Iowa. An IDALS news release said both farms experienced increased deaths in turkeys but did not specify the size of either flock. The county has now had 10 outbreaks.
The commercial laying operation is in Sioux County, which also lies in northwestern Iowa but borders South Dakota. The flock of an estimated 60,000 chickens also experienced increased mortality, the IDALS release said.
The agency said 20,096,846 poultry in 27 outbreaks in 11 counties have now been affected in Iowa. The vast majority of the birds—19,310,471—have been egg-laying chickens.
Meanwhile, the Iowa Department of Agriculture has updated their website, showing that in that state alone the number of birds affected is very near 20 million.
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
THREE PROBABLE CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN BUENA VISTA AND SIOUX COUNTIES
CDC considers the risk to people to be lowDES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to three probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry farms in Buena Vista and Sioux counties. These three new cases would join 25 cases of the disease in Iowa that were previously announced. State officials have quarantined the premises and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
Buena Vista 9 – Turkey farm that has experienced increased mortality. An estimate on the number of birds at the site is still pending. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza. Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.
Buena Vista 10 – Turkey farm that has experienced increased mortality. An estimate on the number of birds at the site is still pending. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza. Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.
Sioux 4 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 60,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza. Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.
As the Department receives final confirmations of the disease updated information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp.
