The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WDATCP), after extensive surveillance and testing for avian influenza, has released the quarantine zone within 6.2 miles of a farm in Chippewa County. There have been no new detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the county since the original incident in April that affected a flock of commercial turkeys.
WDATCP confirmed on April 22 that a commercial flock of 87,000 turkeys in Chippewa County had been infected with H5N2 avian influenza. Since that time, WDATCP successfully implemented a coordinated response with the property owners, the USDA, and other state agencies to contain and eliminate the disease. The affected farm was immediately quarantined and the remaining birds in the flock were depopulated. That farm itself remains quarantined until further notice.
“Even though we are starting to release quarantines, it’s not time to let down our guard quite yet,” said Dr. Paul McGraw, Wisconsin state veterinarian. “As long as this virus might still be in the environment, we need to be closely watching birds for signs of illness.”
Positive flocks are still being reported in states west of Wisconsin, McGraw added.
The last confirmed cases of avian influenza in Wisconsin were reported by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on May 5. On that day, two cases of H5N2 avian influenza were reported in commercial turkey flocks in Barron County, affecting a total of 239,600 birds.
To track confirmed cases of the North American avian influenza outbreak, see WATTAgNet's avian influenza tracker map and bookmark the avian influenza update page for news about and analysis of avian influenza.
