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Low pathogenic avian flu found in Wisconsin turkey flock

Low pathogenic avian influenza has been discovered in a flock of 84,000 turkeys in Barron County, Wisconsin.  The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) website says it’s the second U.S. avian flu outbreak in less than a week, but it’s a less virulent H5N2 strain.

The USDA says the flock was tested after showing signs of illness.  Testing determined that turkeys in the flock were positive for the virus, which was also determined to have originated from wild birds.  Testing also determined that the virus is not related to highly pathogenic H5N2 strains of avian influenza that resulted in the loss of 50 million birds in 2015.

Birds infected with low pathogenic avian influenza often show few if any clinical signs of illness.