Suspected infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, are continuing to spread at agricultural producers of ducks, egg-laying chickens, and now broiler chickens, located in northeast Indiana.
From Nov. 14 thorough Monday, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health has quarantined a total of 30,067 ducks, 213,127 egg-laying chickens, and 33,893 broiler chickens in LaGrange and Elkhart counties because of bird flu, records show.
Nearly all of the quarantined fowl already has been destroyed following confirmation of HPAI infection. The remaining birds also are slated to be depopulated if their bird flu tests come back positive.
In the past six weeks, nearly 200,000 ducks and approximately 600,000 egg-laying chickens have been quarantined or destroyed in the northeast corner of the state after bird flu roared back following a six-month lull in new cases at Indiana commercial producers.
A more widespread HPAI outbreak in Indiana during the first three months of the year required the destruction of more than 8 million chickens and caused the price of eggs to soar.
Indiana ranks first among the 50 states for duck meat production and third in the nation for eggs. Poultry farming in Indiana annually generates $18.3 billion in total economic activity and directly employs 12,792 Hoosiers, according to the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asserts the public health risk for HPAI is low. It’s possible for humans to contract HPAI, though no cases have been confirmed in Indiana, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
Bird flu does not present a food safety risk. BOAH says cooked poultry and eggs and pasteurized dairy products are safe to eat.
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