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Bird flu hits hard in Knox County

BLOOMFIELD — The bird flu has flown into Knox County and caused Nebraska’s largest case of the extremely contagious virus in a domestic flock so far.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced on April 27 a seventh confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state.

The affected farm, with a flock of more than 2.1 million laying hens, is located in Knox County.

NDA State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley noted the farm has been quarantined and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner.

Additionally, the NDA has established a 6.2-mile control zone, as is USDA policy, around the affected premises.

Poultry producers in that control zone should know the signs and symptoms of avian influenza and notify the NDA immediately of sick or dying birds.

State officials have not identified the owner of the affected operation, though it is likely owned by Michael Foods, which has several egg farms in the region, including near Bloomfield.

Earlier in April, the company had an outbreak of the virus at one of its Dixon County farms and about 1.7 million birds had to be euthanized and disposed of.

Michael Foods has not issued any sort of statement about the Knox County avian influenza case.

An eighth confirmed case of the virus in Nebraska was announced on April 28 at a Washington County farm with a small backyard mixed flock.

In addition, the NDA was notified of a confirmed case of the disease in a backyard flock in Kansas’ Republic County.

The surveillance zone for this flock extends into Nuckolls County in Nebraska.

The NDA’s controlled movement order that prohibits birds of any type at events - including but not limited to fairs, expositions, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird auctions - and was set to expire on April 30 will now be extended through at least May 15.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk to people getting avian influenza infections from birds is low.

One human case of the disease has been detected in the United States.

Avian influenza is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure, according to the NDA.

The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

Wild birds can carry the disease without becoming sick, while domesticated birds can become really sick.

Symptoms of avian influenza in poultry include a decrease in water consumption; a lack of energy and appetite; decreased egg production or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; nasal discharge, coughing and sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea.

The disease also can cause sudden death in birds even if they are not showing any other symptoms and can survive for weeks in contaminated environments.

The NDA is encouraging bird owners to prevent contact between their birds and wildlife and to practice strict biosecurity measures.

If poultry producers suspect signs of avian influenza in their flocks, they should report it to the NDA immediately at 402- 471-2351.

More information for producers may be found at nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/index.html or healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

Northeast Nebraska News Company

102 W. Main
Hartington NE 68739
402-254-3997