News

New avian influenza case reported in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza. 

A non-commercial backyard flock of 115 birds in Washington County northeast of Milwaukee has been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.

This brings the total number of flocks affected in Wisconsin this year to 23, but it’s the first case since May 20^th.

Kevin Hoffman with the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says the disease can be spread by contact with infected birds, equipment, or clothing worn by anyone working with the animals, so strong biosecurity measures are encouraged to protect the birds.

Eight of the 23 flocks affected this year were commercial flocks, including the first one this year back in March which affected 2.7 million laying hens.  Overall, just over three million 35 thousand birds have been depopulated because of HPAI in Wisconsin this year.

Hoffman says Indiana and Minnesota have also announced new cases of HPAI in domestic flocks this week, and there have been recent detections among wild birds in Wisconsin.