Wisconsin Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Stems from Wild Birds

An outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza in Western Wisconsin stems from a virus of North American wild bird origin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the strain of low pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza was discovered in a flock of 84,000 turkeys in Barron County, Wisconsin. The confirmation follows testing after birds showed signs of depression, according to the World Organization for Animal Health.

The virus is not considered to be as serious as the high pathogenic avian influenza found in Tennessee last week. That outbreak has already resulted in the culling of some 73,000 birds. Countries including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong have imposed limits on imports of U.S. poultry from Tennessee and Wisconsin because of the outbreaks. The birds in Wisconsin will not be depopulated, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.

The Tennessee high pathogenic outbreak is the first HPAI outbreak in the U.S. since January of last year. Low pathogenic avian influenza was found in the U.S. as recently as last May in Missouri.

Source;  NAFB News