Ag Policy Blog

Kansas Confirms H5N2 in a Backyard Flock

Chris Clayton
By  Chris Clayton , DTN Ag Policy Editor
Connect with Chris:

The Kansas Department of Agriculture reported Friday afternoon that samples from a backyard flock of chickens and ducks had come back with a positive result of H2N2 avian influenza.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the positive test for the flock in Leavenworth County, Kansas. While APHIS had cited findings in the Mississippi flyway, this flock is the first finding of the high-pathogenic virus in the Central flyway. It's also the first finding in the Plains or Midwest of a backyard flock or wild bird. Positive findings in Minnesota, Missouri and Arkansas were all commercial turkey farms that reported cases over the last 10 days.

Countries have been quick to ban poultry exports from states with positive tests.

No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time and the virus is not considered harmful to humans. Nonetheless, USDA advises cooking poultry to 165F.

P[L1] D[0x0] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]

The Kansas Department of Agriculture stated staff would be "establishing a control zone around the premise." USDA stated state officials had quarantined the affected farm and will euthanize the birds on the property to prevent the spread of the disease.

Leavenworth County Kansas is northeast of the Kansas City area and about 150 miles north of where Kansas officials were increasing surveillance of poultry operations and wild fowl in Cherokee and Crawford counties. Those counties boosted monitoring because the H5N2 strain was found in Jasper County, Missouri.

Dr. Bill Brown, State Animal Health Commissioner, said a response team from KDA’s Division of Animal Health and from USDA will be sent to the Leavenworth area to conduct surveillance and collect more samples from flocks within the control zone. “It is important to know where backyard flocks of poultry exist. We will be seeking information about the presence of backyard flocks in Leavenworth County.”

Avian Influenza exists naturally in many wild birds and can be transmitted by contact with infected animals or ingestion of infected food or water. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.

“We are dedicated to providing the necessary assistance and precautions to avoid any possible spreading of the disease,” Brown said. Symptoms in poultry include coughing, sneezing, respiratory distress, decreased egg production and sudden death.

The Kansas Department of Kansas is seeking assistance from backyard poultry owners in Leavenworth County. If you currently own poultry, the agency is requesting you self-report your backyard flock. This will assist animal health officials in helping to monitor the situation and control the spread of this disease. Please email information about the location and type of backyard flock in Leavenworth County to HPAI@KDA.KS.GOV.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/…

Follow me on Twitter @ChrisClaytonDTN.

P[] D[728x170] M[320x75] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[L2] D[728x90] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]

Comments

To comment, please Log In or Join our Community .

Bonnie Dukowitz
3/14/2015 | 7:07 AM CDT
I am curious as to when the AP will pay a little attention to this. I bet it will be the ducks getting it from the turkeys.