Alabama is the third state to have a confirmed case of avian influenza in a commercial flock of chickens. Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) determined the virus to be low pathogenic avian influenza, similar to the case found in Kentucky earlier this week, based on samples sent by a company in Pickens County during a routine screening test.
No affected poultry has entered the food chain and this particular strain does not pose a threat to humans, according to ADAI. The infected chickens have been placed in quarantine and surrounding areas in Alabama and Tennessee, where the first case of 2017 in the U.S., was detected, are under surveillance.
State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Fraizer has issued a stop movement order for certain poultry in Alabama as a precautionary measure to “implement biosecurity for all poultry in our state.” ADAI and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are working together to stop the spreading of the disease by actively looking for infected birds.
Dr. Fraizer encourages both backyard flock owners and commercial poultry producers to practice strict biosecurity measures such as isolating birds from other animals and keeping everything that comes in contact with the birds are sanitized.
