GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to impact poultry flocks and dairy herds around the country. For the first time in a commercial facility this year, a commercial flock in Shelby County, Texas, has been infected with HPAI.
The last time a commercial flock was impacted by the virus in Texas was in April 2024. All other cases between now and then have been backyard flocks. The Texas Animal Health Commission and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the presence of the virus on Dec. 11, according to a release from the TAHC.
The confirmation came after there was considerable mortality in the flock, and samples were submitted to a Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. More than 200,000 birds were impacted, according to TAHC data.
“All bird owners should consider how they can keep their flocks healthy through enhanced biosecurity practices,” Dr. Bud Dinges, TAHC executive director and state veterinarian, said. “Ensuring barriers between wild birds are established is critical. Watch birds closely for signs of illness and report sickness or unexpected deaths immediately.”
Another HPAI first happened in Wisconsin recently. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection identified a case of HPAI in a dairy herd in Dodge County. This is the first detection of the virus in dairy cattle in the state, DATCP noted in a release.
The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tested samples from the affected farm, and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories later confirmed the presence of HPAI. The infected farm has been quarantined, but, per USDA, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or consumer health as products are pasteurized before entering the market.
DATCP strongly recommends that livestock and poultry owners register their sites. For one, state law requires it, but it also helps animal health officials notify owners during disease outbreaks, DATCP added. The department is working closely with the USDA, FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state partners to respond to this detection.
Also, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture has announced the confirmation of a case of HPAI in a Jessamine County backyard flock. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the presence of the virus after representatives from the Jessamine County premises alerted the KDA on Dec. 6 of increased mortality in their flock, the department said in a release.
“The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of State Veterinarian is working closely with federal animal health officials and other state agencies to contain this incident of avian influenza,” Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said. “Protecting the health of livestock and poultry in the Commonwealth is a top priority of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.”
The affected flock has been quarantined, and they started depopulating on Dec. 11, KDA added. Additionally, a surveillance zone has been placed around the impacted premises, and movement has been restricted for all backyard and commercial facilities in the surveillance zone to stop the spread of disease.
“We are working diligently to prevent this virus from spreading to other poultry premises,” Dr. Steve Velasco III, Kentucky state veterinarian, said. “We have activated our avian influenza response plan and are in active communication with our state, federal, and industry partners.”
On Dec. 15, APHIS reported that for the previous 30 days there have been 33 commercial flocks and 57 backyard flocks affected by HPAI. Commercial flocks include 22 in Indiana and 5 in North Carolina. These combined national confirmations totaled 880,000 affected birds.
On Dec. 15, APHIS reported that for the previous 30 days in the United States, there have been two confirmed cases in two states with HPAI in a dairy milking cow facility, one in Wisconsin and one in California.
For more information on bird flu, visit APHIS at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza.
