Eleven New Avian Flu Outbreaks Confirmed in US

US - The latest official update records 11 new outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza, all in commercial flocks - four in Iowa in chickens and seven in Minnesota turkeys; more than 4.36 million birds are affected in these new outbreaks, bringing the total so far to more than 15.4 million.
calendar icon 30 April 2015
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According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 11 new outbreaks of high-path avian flu were confirmed on 28 April:

  • Iowa, Sioux county - 3,660,000 commercial chickens
  • Iowa, O'Brien county - 240,000 commercial chickens
  • Iowa, O'Brien county - 98,000 commercial chickens
  • Iowa, Osceola county - 258,000 commercial chickens
  • Minnesota, Stearns county - 19,100 commercial turkeys
  • Minnesota, Steele county - 82,900 commercial turkeys
  • Minnesota, Swift county - commercial turkeys (number pending)
  • Minnesota, Kandiyohi county - commercial turkeys (number pending)
  • Minnesota, Kandiyohi county - 8,400 commercial turkeys
  • Minnesota, Kandiyohi county - commercial turkeys (number pending)
  • Minnesota, Kandiyohi county - commercial turkeys (number pending)

In each of these outbreaks, the cause has been confirmed as the H5N2 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of mixed Eurasian and American origin.

All these outbreaks are in the area of the Mississippi flyway for migrating birds.

Overview of high-path avian flu outbreaks in US poultry

The following information is based on published USDA APHIS outbreak reports:

  • The latest cases bring the total number of high-path avian flu outbreaks since December 2014 to 97.
  • Outbreaks have occurred in poultry in 13 states.
  • Three of the early outbreaks were caused by the H5N8 sub-type of the virus but in all those since mid-February 2015, the H5N2 variant has been confirmed.
  • The majority of outbreaks have been in commercial turkeys (74); 10 have been in commercial chickens, one in a mixed commercial flock and 12 in backyard flocks.
  • The number of poultry affected by these outbreaks now exceeds 15.45 million. This figure includes almost 4.75 million commercial chickens, more than 10.57 million commercial turkeys and 69,600 backyard poultry.
  • The disease has also affected five captive wild birds.

Further Reading

You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.

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