Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) has been eliminated in the five turkey flocks in California that tested positive in September and October, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported.
In an announcement on its website, CDFA stated that the surveillance zones associated with the five turkey flocks in that state has been lifted, and that incident surveillance has been completed in Stanislaus and Merced Counties, but routine avian influenza surveillance continues statewide.
The state agency earlier reported that five flocks in Stanislaus County had tested positive to low pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza. Of the five flocks, four were participants in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP.)
According to an October report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the source of the infection had not been determined.
While CDFA states that the five affected premises are now free of avian influenza, it still cautions poultry owners to continue to utilize good biosecurity practices to protect their flocks.
“It is important to remember that we are still in the midst of the poultry ‘flu’ season, so bird owners should not let their guard down and remain vigilant in their biosecurity efforts,” the agency stated.
Avian influenza in Minnesota
California is not the only U.S. state to deal with low pathogenic avian influenza. According to reports from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH) and the OIE, there have been four cases of LPAI in commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota. Three of the cases were in Stearns County, while the other was in Kandiyohi County. Between the four flocks, a total of 178,000 turkeys were affected.
However, the serotype of avian influenza confirmed in the Minnesota turkey flocks was different than what was confirmed in California. All Minnesota avian influenza cases were of the H5N2 serotype, according to the OIE.
The last avian influenza update on the MBAH website was posted on November 1.
