9 more Indiana turkey farms infected with bird flu

The agency says the strain (H7N8) is different than the ones that forced millions of birds to be killed during last year’s outbreak.

(Update) According to Denise Derrer with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, so far, only a single farm in Dubois was found to have the avian flu virus.

APHIS is assisting IN officials with the outbreak response, and state officials have quarantined the affected farm.

State veterinarian Bret Marsh, DVM, said in the statement that the strain was unique to in and the nation and isn’t related to the strains that struck the upper Midwest past year or to an outbreak last May in a backyard flock in northeastern Indiana.

USDA urged all poultry producers, regardless of whether they manage a small backyard flock or a big commercial chicken or turkey farm, to renew their biosecurity efforts.

According to the State Board of Animal Health, 60,000 birds have been affected.

IN officials say there is no food safety risk, and the risk to humans is very low.

Signs of H7N8 avian flu in birds include sudden death, lack of energy, lack of appetite, decreased egg production, soft-shelled eggs, misshapen eggs and diarrhea. Dubois farmer Steve Kalb said this afternoon the birds were raised on a farm run by he and his father, Dan. The birds are property of Farbest Foods.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it confirmed the diagnosis Friday morning, and workers have already isolated the farm and begun slaughtering all the birds there and destroying their carcasses. As birds carrying influenza pass through their droppings can infect local domestic birds. “Hoosiers can be assured that we are taking all precautions to contain the situation and minimize the effects to Indiana’s robust poultry industry”.

IN is a significant poultry producer, with state officials valuing the industry as $2.5 billion. While 67 cases of high-path avian influenza have been discovered in France, it’s not been an issue again yet here in the U.S. But in a story from Gary Crawford, animal health officials are ready if avian influenza should return in 2016.