A bird flu that is deadly to poultry was confirmed to have been found in a northern Chippewa County farm in Wisconsin yesterday (21 April), county officials told The Chippewa Herald.

The latest outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N2 strain has been identified at an undisclosed turkey farm housing 60,000 birds. All of the remaining birds will be killed to prevent any spread of the disease.

Authorities have stressed there has been no risk to public health and no danger to the food supply from the Avian flu outbreak.

Jen Rombalski, director-health officer for the Chippewa County Department of Public Health, said the department was notified Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection about the bird flu being on the farm when test results came back from the lab.

She said in cases such as this, all bird farms within a 10-mile radius will also be quarantined. She said that amounts to two other farms, both of which are in Chippewa County.

“This is a sad situation for the farm owner, and a concern for many people,” she said, noting however that "this particular strain has not crossed over into humans.”

Further Reading

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