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While MERS has most of our attention today the plight of poultry farmers in the upper Midwest remains dire as six more farms (2 in Iowa, 4 in Minnesota) were announced as `presumed positive' for the HPAI H5N2 virus.
Minnesota, which had gone 10 days without a new infection, has now reported 14 new outbreaks since Tuesday. Today's four new findings are:
Iowa - the hardest hit state having lost 28 million birds - reports additional outbreaks in two counties that have already seen multiple outbreaks.
TWO PROBABLE CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WRIGHT AND SAC COUNTIES
CDC considers the risk to people to be low
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to two probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Wright and Sac counties. The Department has quarantined the premise 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.
Wright 5 - A pullet farm with an estimated 400,000 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.
Sac 7 – Turkey farm with an estimated 42,000 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.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health 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 ever been detected and there is no food safety risk for consumers.
The hot summertime temperatures which are hoped will soon diminish the spread of H5N2 remain elusive in the upper Midwest, with temperatures running from the lower 60s to the lower 70s today in both Iowa and Minnesota.
