Indiana officials: No new bird-flu infections reported

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed H7N8 was found in the commercial flock.

The agency said the flock has been quarantined and birds were being euthanized to try to prevent further spread of the virus.

Officials said, however, that they do not know of any case in this recent outbreak in why the avian flu has been transferred to humans.

Farbest Farms’ website says it produces about 15 million turkeys a year and has contract growers in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

The new strain – H7N8 – was detected in a Dubois County, Ind., commercial turkey flock.

Last year’s H5N2 avian flu outbreak was considered the worst animal disease outbreak in USA history, leading to the death of more than 48 million birds on 223 operations in nine states, according to USDA.

The H7N8 strain has been detected in ducks and wild birds in the United States, but remains a low-pathogenic kind that does not sicken the birds, according to the year-long testing program of the federal agency in July.

“Hopefully as we respond quickly to this virus we can get it contained and hopefully not see an extensive outbreak like we did previous year”, said T.J. Myers, a veterinary services administrator with the USDA. Research has shown that more than likely, the H5N2 virus was introduced through the wild birds’ northern migration, accelerating from farm to farm last spring. Indiana State Veterinarian Bret Marsh said there’s a “heightened sense of awareness about biosecurity” throughout the poultry industry now that bird flu has resurfaced. 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 Indiana State Board of Animal Health said the avian flu does not present a food safety risk and poultry and eggs are safe to eat. “Hoosiers can be assured that we are taking all precautions to contain the situation and minimize the effects to Indiana’s robust poultry industry”.

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area.