Avian Influenza Update

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Livestock, Poultry

Waiting and Watching for Avian Influenza

Avian InfluenzaLast spring, operations in 15 states were affected by avian influenza, claiming 50 million birds mostly from egg-laying operations and costing the industry $3.3 billion. And many in the poultry industry were watching closely this past fall when the migratory birds started their flight back south again. 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.


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From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 infections have been reported in U.S. domestic poultry (backyard and commercial flocks), captive wild birds, and wild birds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI)*. HPAI H5 detections began in December 2014 and continued into mid-June 2015. During that time H5 bird flu virus detections were reported in 21 U.S. states (15 states with outbreaks in domestic poultry or captive birds and 6 states with H5 detections in wild birds only). It is possible that H5 outbreaks in birds in the United States may recur in the fall and winter. Surveillance for H5 in U.S. birds is ongoing.