Situation Update #21

As of: December 11, 2022

State of Indiana Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

  Note on content presented in this update:

Details disclosed here will be updated on BOAH’s website after test results are confirmed at the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory.

This policy will keep BOAH’s website consistent with USDA’s reporting and to avoid impacting international trade.

   State of Indiana Response to 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza  

Note:  New information is highlighted in BOLD ITALIC type.  

CURRENT SITUATION  

On December 11, a COMMERCIAL flock in Daviess County tested presumptive-positive for H5 avian influenza virus. Samples will be tested at the national USDA laboratory in Iowa for confirmation. A 10km control area and 10km surveillance zone have been established.

The last confirmed-positive highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) case in Indiana was September 1, 2022.

County & Flock #: Daviess 01

Flock Size: 11,394

Type of Operation: Commercial Turkey

Status: Quarantined

Control Area: Active

Surveillance Zone: Active

STATEWIDE SUMMARY

COMMERCIAL FLOCKS:

Affected premises = 10

NON-COMMERCIAL FLOCKS:

Affected premises = 5

TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRDS AFFECTED:

Commercial Turkeys: 183,127

Commercial Ducks: 17,703

Non-Commercial: 466

BACKGROUND  

On Feb. 9, 2022, the first confirmed case of H5N1 (with a Eurasian H5 goose/Guangdong lineage) HPAI was identified in a commercial flock in Dubois County with 29,000 turkeys (known as Dubois 1). This was the first report of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United States since 2020 and the first in Indiana since 2016.

Until the most recent case, the last Indiana flock to test positive was on September 1, when a small non-commercial flock in Elkhart County tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus.

RESPONSE  

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flocks. The United States has the strongest avian influenza surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

BOAH is working with multiple state and federal partners to respond to this event, including Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and USDA Veterinary Services, Wildlife Services and Farm Service Agency.

NON-COMMERCIAL FLOCK SURVEILLANCE: Testing of nearby flocks is important to verify the virus has not spread in the area. BOAH staff will be reaching out to flock owners within the surveillance zone to offer testing.

WILD BIRD SURVEILLANCE: USDA Wildlife Services and Indiana Department of Natural Resources are assisting with surveillance of wild birds in and near the control areas. Nearly 300 samples from wild bird species have been tested. Positive test results have been identified in two bald eagles, two red-tailed hawks, a redhead duck, two great-horned owls, a double-crested cormorant, six American green-winged teals, and six American blue-winged teals collected in Indiana.

PUBLIC ADVISORIES

Food Safety

Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Officials are not aware of any public health significance with this virus. No cases of human infection have been reported. Human health agencies will be monitoring workers and others in contact with birds to monitor for influenza-like illness.

Animal Health

Hobby poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing.

Signs include: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird health information is online at: www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/dtf-resources/dtf-resources.

Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: https://www.in.gov/boah/species-information/avianbirds/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza/. Users may subscribe to email and/or text updates on a subscribe link at that page.

Wild Bird Health

Wild bird species most likely to carry HPAI, waterbirds and raptors, do not typically visit bird feeders.

If people see sick or dead songbirds, Indiana Department of Natural Resources recommends:

Clean bird feeders by removing all debris and scrubbing them clean (while wearing gloves to prevent Salmonella infection); soak the feeders in a diluted bleach solution no stronger than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water; then rinse and dry feeders completely before adding food.
Keep bird feeders down until sick birds are no longer seen.
Once the feeders are back up, monitor the area for additional sick birds.
Report any additional sick or dead birds through DNR’s online sick and dead wildlife reporting system: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/wildlife-diseases-inindiana/sick-or-dead-wildlife-reporting/

More information about avian influenza and wild birds: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-andwildlife/wildlife-resources/wildlife-diseases-in-indiana/avian-flu-bird-flu/

Human Health

Recent detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 viruses (H5N1 bird flu) in wild birds and poultry pose a low risk to the health of the general public; however, rare human infections are possible. Human infections are most likely to be rare and happen in people with recreational or occupational exposures involving prolonged, unprotected close contact with infected birds or contaminated environments. CDC is taking routine preparedness measures to be ready in case human infections with these viruses happen. IDOH offers the following guidance documents for poultry growers and emergency responders to protect their health:

The Indiana Department of Health and the local health departments (LHD) have been monitoring people who have been exposed to test-positive birds for signs of influenza-like illness. To date, none had evidence of infection or illness associated with AI virus.

Mental Health

Community members who are affected by this animal health emergency are to be aware of the possible impact on their mental health and to seek assistance if needed. Available resources include:

Be Well Indiana: Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious or alone? Call this free, confidential resource available 24/7 to anyone in the state of Indiana.
- Call 2-1-1 and enter your ZIP code.
- Follow the prompts and select number 3 for the Be Well Crisis Helpline.
Farm Aid: This organization connects farmers with helpful services, resources and opportunities specific to their individual needs. Call the Farmer Hotline for immediate assistance Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time.
- Call 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243).
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
- Dial 9-8-8 or call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

ABOUT INDIANA POULTRY PRODUCTION

Indiana is a leading producer of poultry, eggs and poultry products. Nationally, Indiana ranks number 1 in production of ducks, second in layer chickens and table eggs, and third in turkeys, as well as a major producer of broilers. Dubois County is Indiana’s leading turkey-producing county.  

Ongoing/Latest Updates:  

Updates are available online at:  https://www.in.gov/boah/species-information/avianbirds/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza/  Visit that webpage to subscribe for updates delivered via text and/or email by clicking the red “subscribe” icon at the top.  