A turkey farm in southern Indiana is the site of the first known case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States since 2020, said the USDA on Wednesday. The 29,000-bird flock in Dubois County was being killed to prevent spread of the virus, and the Indiana Board of Animal Health said it was working with poultry growers to increase monitoring of flocks statewide.
USDA scientists confirmed the disease after preliminary testing by a state animal disease laboratory at Purdue University. A veterinarian delivered samples from the Dubois County flock to the state laboratory after approximately 100 turkeys in the flock had died. The farm was put under quarantine. State and federal officials will conduct surveillance and testing on nearby farms for bird flu.
“High path” bird flu can rapidly wipe out a flock of birds. Nearly 50 million birds, mostly laying hens and turkeys, died in an epidemic of avian influenza in 2014 and 2015.
Indiana has a large poultry industry. The state ranks third in turkey production, first in ducks, and second in egg-laying hens.
The Indiana case “does not present an immediate health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States,” said the USDA.