A commercial turkey farm in Daviess County has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The flock of 13,071 birds is under quarantine and marks the first positive commercial flock in Indiana in more than a year.
A 10km (6 miles) control area has been established around the flock known as “Daviess 02” and includes 45 commercial flocks and 48 hobby/backyard flocks. The entire control area is within Daviess County.
A 20km (12.5 miles) surveillance zone, which encompasses 56 commercial flocks, has been established and includes portions of Daviess, Martin and Greene counties.
Until yesterday’s announcement, Indiana’s last case of HPAI was May 5, 2023, in a non-commercial flock in Posey County. Before that, the last case in a commercial flock was on a Daviess County turkey farm. Since February 2022, Indiana has had 11 commercial poultry flocks (ducks and turkeys) and six small/hobby flocks (mixed species) test positive for HPAI in seven counties. (One additional commercial turkey flock was depopulated as a “dangerous contact” to the diagnosed flock.) All commercial sites have been cleared to restock at the owner’s discretion.
The influenza virus has continued to be active throughout parts of the United States. HPAI has been identified on more than 1000 premises in 47 states since February 2022. Wild birds infected with HPAI have been found from coast to coast in various species, including waterfowl (ducks, swans, geese, gulls, etc.), raptors (hawks and eagles), as well as other common species (American robin, common raven, wild turkey).
The current, ongoing HPAI event is the United States’ largest animal health emergency in history.
As part of existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flocks. The United States has the strongest avian influenza surveillance program in the world, and USDA is actively working with its partners to look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations.
Hobby poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593.
For more information please visit in.gov/ boah.
