All avian flu-related quarantines lifted in Indiana

All quarantines related to the avian influenza outbreak in Indiana earlier in 2016 have been lifted, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) announced.

Roy Graber Headshot
Photo courtesy of Iowa Turkey Federation
Photo courtesy of Iowa Turkey Federation

All quarantines related to the avian influenza outbreak in Indiana earlier in 2016 have been lifted, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) announced.

All properties where avian influenza had previously been detected have been depopulated, disinfected and have completed 90 consecutive days with no new cases of the disease.

The outbreak was first reported in January, when the presence of highly pathogenic H7N8 avian influenza was detected at a commercial turkey farm in Dubois County, Indiana. Shortly thereafter, nine other cases of avian influenza were detected in nearby turkey flocks. Eight of those were determined to be low pathogenic H7N8, while the exact serotype of the virus in the other flock was undetermined.

All affected flocks, plus one layer hen flock in the vicinity were depopulated. A total of 413,163 birds were euthanized as a result of the outbreak.

Unlike what happened in 2015 when more than 48 million birds were affected by avian influenza in an outbreak that spanned seven months, the 2016 outbreak was quickly brought under control and did not spread beyond Dubois County.

“In hindsight, we feel we got ahead of this virus by testing neighboring farms the first day,” State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh stated in a press release.

As farmers repopulate their farms, BOAH staff members will oversee the testing of the flocks for avian influenza.

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