Post

Avian influenza confirmed in Arkansas

 

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the H5N2 strain of avian influenza has been found in a commercial turkey flock in Boone County, Arkansas.  The area has been quarantined and the flock of 40,000 turkeys will be depopulated.

On Tuesday the virus was confirmed in flocks in Jasper and Moniteau Counties in Missouri.  A turkey flock in Pope County, Minnesota was confirmed to have the H5N2 strain last week.

The flocks are all located in the Mississippi flyway, the virus can be transported by wild birds.  A number of infections have been confirmed since mid-December along the Pacific flyway in Washington, Oregon and California.

No human infections with these viruses have been detected.  The Centers for Disease Control considers the risk of H5 infections to humans to be low.