Bird Flu Confirmed in Waterfowl
Published: Friday, January 31, 2025
Avian influenza recently confirmed at some Indiana poultry farms is now deemed responsible for the deaths of wild birds in nearly a dozen Hoosiers counties, including several in the northwestern part of the state.
In response, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is encouraging anyone who interacts with waterfowl to take extra precautions to reduce the chance of infection.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed as the cause of death in waterfowl in LaPorte, Starke, Porter, Lake, Newton and Benton counties along with Allen, Hamilton, Tippecanoe and Vermillion counties.
According to DNR, the number of positive tests for the current active strain of the virus, H5N1, in waterfowl now stands at 98 statewide since 2022.
DNR, with help from USDA, began the testing in waterfowl and raptors and increased testing in hunter harvested waterfowl.
More positive test results are expected, DNR said.
According to DNR, most waterfowl species affected are snow geese and Canada geese, but there have also been deaths in mute swans, tundra swans, mallards, American white pelicans, common goldeneyes and double crested cormorants.
This most recent avian flu confirmations follow a commercial poultry farm in Jay County in the eastern part of the state losing some 20,000 turkeys in early January and close to a million egg laying chickens being put down in nearby western Ohio.
"There's a lot of response going on," said Denise Derrer-Spears, communications director at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.
Spears said the infected farm in Jay County had its entire flock euthanized after a test for the H5N1 virus came back positive on Jan. 3.
Ever since, the farm has been working on disposing of the carcasses and undergoing a clean-up and disinfection of its operation expected to last a few more weeks before permission is granted to house more turkeys.
A 10-kilometer control zone encompassing 56 other commercial poultry farms has also been imposed around the infected Jay County operation.
Spears said farms within the zone cannot bring in or ship birds or transport eggs without a negative test and permit from BOAH to guard against human infection from the food supply.
According to USDA, Indiana ranks fourth and Ohio ninth among the states in turkey production while Indiana is also near the top in egg and chicken production.
Ohio is the second leading producer of eggs in the nation and 17th for chicken production, according to the Ohio Poultry Assn.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains the risk to the public from the virus is considered low, but has warned against drinking raw milk because of H5N1 starting to be found in cows.
According to USDA, the pasteurization process neutralizes the bird flu virus in store-bought milk.
The CDC recommends cooking eggs, poultry and beef to the appropriate internal temperatures to kill any live bacteria or viruses, including bird flu.
Concerns about the virus were already mounting prior to the most recent positive test results.
An older man in Louisiana with underlying medical conditions died on Jan. 6 from bird flu contracted from contaminated wild birds in his backyard and over 900 cattle herds in 16 states have been impacted by the virus.
California, for example, declared a state of emergency in December from bird flu infections in its dairy cattle.
So far, Spears said no H5N1 infections have been confirmed in any of the cattle herds in Indiana.
Spears said there are various strains of the virus, but the one circulating now is the strain responsible for the deaths of millions of birds in the U.S. commercial poultry industry since 2022.
She said the primary cause of infection is from migratory wild birds who can spread the virus from contact with their droppings.
Spears said another reason for the heightened concerns is infections surfacing before the start of the spring migrating season when farms are typically most susceptible to contamination.
"That's why we're trying to remind poultry producers to be on high alert and be on top of their biosecurity," she said.
Spears said steps at a farm to guard against infection include wearing clothing and shoes that can stay inside a barn, washing hands and using noise makers like an air cannon to scare wild birds so they land elsewhere.
She said it's also a good idea to clean and disinfect any equipment coming and going from a farm and close any openings an infected bird can use to get inside a barn.
According to USDA, infected farmers can partially recover their losses by applying for financial assistance at a local Farm Service Agency office.
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