Low pathogenic avian influenza detected in Alabama

Avian influenza continues to spread around the southeastern United States, with a pair of low-pathogenic detections in Alabama.

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Avian influenza continues to spread around the southeastern United States, with a pair of low-pathogenic detections in Alabama.

On March 21, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) confirmed the detection of a low pathogenic strain of the disease in a commercial poultry breeding operation in Pickens County and a backyard flock in Madison County. Both detections are not related to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections elsewhere in the country. On March 22, the department confirmed another low pathogenic case in a commercial flock in Cullman County.

A press release from the department said the commercial flock is under quarantine. Surveillance zones are now active surrounding the detection sites in the northern and western Alabama counties.

On March 14, the ADAI issued a stop movement order for certain poultry after three potential cases of avian influenza were identified. The order halts movement of birds to poultry shows, swap meets, flea markets and poultry auctions.

A WattAgNet report from March 15 said two of the suspected detections were located on two separate premises in northern Alabama. One flock of chickens at a commercial breeder operation located in Lauderdale County was found to be suspect for avian influenza. On March 22, Daniel Autrey, chief of staff and legal advisor for the ADAI, said the Lauderdale County case was confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza. Those birds were depopulated.

Outbreaks throughout the Southeast

The Alabama detection is the latest in a string of outbreaks of HPAI or low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) located in southeastern U.S. states, a key region for the nation’s broiler industry. In March, cases were confirmed or suspected in Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky.

As of March 20, all poultry samples from the Tennessee surveillance zones are testing negative for avian influenza, according to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The flock at the center of the second HPAI outbreak were depopulated by March 17.

Public health officials stress the disease does not pose a risk to the food supply.

Track 2017 avian flu outbreaks in North American poultry

To help poultry growers and producers monitor these outbreaks of avian influenza, WATTAgNet has again created an interactive map tracking cases confirmed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in North America in 2017: https://batchgeo.com/map/2017-avian-influenza-outbreaks.

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