The presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has been confirmed in an Iowa turkey farm and a Nebraska layer farm, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on May 27.
Affected were a flock of 20,700 turkeys in Pocahontas County, Iowa, and a flock of 293,200 chickens in Dixon County, Nebraska. According to APHIS, this is the fourth avian influenza detection in Pocahontas County, and the third confirmed case of avian influenza in Dixon County. To date, all of Nebraska’s avian influenza cases have been in Dixon County.
“These farms are in close proximity to each other so this finding, while unfortunate, is not unexpected,” said Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach.
The latest avian influenza detections follow several days of no newly reported cases. Prior to these two discoveries, APHIS’ last announcement of new avian influenza cases occurred on May 22 with the discovery of avian influenza in two commercial turkey farms in Iowa.
Avian influenza has now affected more than 41 million birds in 181 cases, according to APHIS.
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.
