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Depopulation completed at egg farm as avian influenza is confirmed in wild Wisconsin birds
Wisconsin officials confirm finding highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds around the state.
The Department of Natural Resources says the H5 virus was found in a Cooper’s hawk and a bald eagle from Dane County, a lesser scaup from Columbia County, a red-tailed hawk from Grant County, a Canada goose from Milwaukee County, and a trumpeter swan from Polk County. The affected birds were tested by the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center and confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on March 30 and March 31.
Wild birds are suspected of carrying the virus to domestic poultry flocks in several states.
State ag department officials say the one Wisconsin commercial egg producer affected by the virus March 14th completed depopulating their flock March 30th, and there are no new commercial or backyard flocks in the state with the disease.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is usually fatal for birds but does not affect humans. Once detected on a farm, the site is quarantined and no poultry products from the site enter the food chain.
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