Highly contagious bird flu confirmed in Wisconsin backyard flock; birds euthanized
Summary
- Wisconsin officials confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard poultry flock in Rusk County on Thursday.
- All birds on the affected property were euthanized and will not enter the food system; how the flock was infected was not specified.
- The virus, often fatal to domestic poultry, has circulated among wild and domestic birds in North America since December 2021, per state officials.
- Officials may establish a 10-kilometer surveillance zone around an affected backyard flock, with no movement restrictions on surrounding premises.
Reactions
- The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection urged owners to disinfect equipment, restrict access to animals, and quarantine new birds for at least 30 days.
- The department recommended poultry owners keep their birds indoors when possible and wash hands around flocks and herds.
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- Highly contagious bird flu detected in Wisconsin as officials euthanize infected flock
foxnews.com· 40h
A Fox News Digital article reports that Wisconsin officials confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard poultry flock in Rusk County and euthanized all birds on the property, which will not enter the food system, without saying how the flock was infected. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, which says the virus has circulated in North America since December 2021, urged owners to disinfect equipment, restrict access to animals, quarantine new birds for at least 30 days, and keep poultry indoors when possible.
