ADDL Conducts Testing as USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Commercial Turkey Flock in Dubois County, Indiana
Thursday, February 10, 2022
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois County, Indiana. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United States since 2020.
Samples from the affected flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) at Purdue University, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. Virus isolation is ongoing.
The ADDL provides diagnostic services in support of animal health for the State of Indiana and across the United States. This week, when samples from the affected flock were delivered to the ADDL, the Lab responded swiftly to conduct the needed tests and continues to work with the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and USDA. The farm is under quarantine, and BOAH is actively working with the industry to increase monitoring of flocks statewide.
Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly. No human cases of avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.
Hobby poultry owners are encouraged to practice good biosecurity and be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing.
Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities in Indiana, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: https://www.in.gov/boah/species-information/avianbirds/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza/. Users may subscribe to email and/or text message updates on a link at the top of that page.
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